A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 has struck in the sea between the islands of Kasos and Karpathos, prompting a precautionary tsunami warning for parts of southern Greece that was later lifted.
The quake occurred at 1:50 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 20 kilometers south of Kasos at a depth of 64.4 kilometers, according to revised data from the Athens Geodynamic Institute.
Initially measured at magnitude 6.0, the tremor was strongly felt across Crete, Rhodes, and Kos, raising concerns among residents but causing no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
Following the quake, Greece's Civil Protection Ministry issued an emergency alert via the 112 messaging system, warning of a possible tsunami risk and urging residents to move away from coastal areas.
The message stated that a "magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48 km south-southeast of Kasos" and advised people to "follow instructions from local authorities."
Speaking on national broadcaster ERT, Efthymios Lekkas, president of the Organization for Earthquake Planning and Protection (OASP), said the depth of the quake significantly lessened its impact.
“The focal depth at 60 kilometers means the energy dissipated before reaching Kasos, Karpathos, and even more so Crete,” Mr. Lekkas said.
“Preliminary reports indicate no significant damage.”
Mr. Lekkas emphasized that quakes of this depth typically occur in isolation, with little to no foreshock or aftershock activity expected.
“Such earthquakes happen once and do not produce a rich sequence of aftershocks, which is a positive sign,” he said, noting that the event took place along the Hellenic Arc, a well-known seismic zone.
Addressing concerns over recent seismic activity in Santorini and Turkey, Mr. Lekkas dismissed any connection.
“There is absolutely no link between this earthquake and the tremors in Santorini or Turkey. These are entirely different tectonic environments,” he said. “Santorini’s activity is volcanic in nature, while Turkey’s quakes follow the Eastern Anatolian fault system.”
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, but experts agree that the likelihood of significant aftershocks is low.
The precautionary tsunami warning has since been lifted. This latest earthquake occurred amid heightened sensitivity to seismic events in the region but appears to be an isolated incident with minimal impact.