A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 struck the island of Evia early Sunday, waking residents and prompting authorities to close schools in the affected area as aftershocks continued.
The tremor hit at 3:23 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located three kilometers east of Prokopi, according to revised data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The earthquake's depth was measured at approximately 16.9 kilometers.
The quake was widely felt across northern Evia and the greater Athens area, with residents in Chalkida and nearby villages reporting shaking buildings and instances of falling debris.
Local media outlet evima.gr quoted witnesses in Prokopi describing chunks of plaster crumbling from walls as the ground shook.
A second tremor, registering a magnitude of 3.6, followed approximately 20 minutes later, with its epicenter about eight kilometers northeast of Prokopi, further unsettling communities already shaken by the initial quake.
While no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage have emerged, officials remain vigilant. Authorities in the municipality of Mantoudi-Limni-Agia Anna announced that all schools in the area will remain closed on Monday as a precautionary measure due to the ongoing seismic activity.
Initial automated readings had placed the first earthquake at a magnitude of 4.8 before being revised downward. This recent sequence of earthquakes follows several light tremors that rattled the same region over the weekend, raising concerns among seismologists and residents about a potential increase in seismic activity.
Greece is situated in a seismically active zone and frequently experiences earthquakes. However, fatalities and serious damage are uncommon due to stringent modern building codes and widespread public preparedness efforts. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely as residents brace for potential aftershocks.