Crete earthquake latest: Aftershocks continue after 6.1 quake with tourist sites still closed – UK Times

– A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off northern Crete at 6.19am local time on Thursday.

– The epicentre was 58km northeast of Elounda, at a depth of 69km.

– More than 30 aftershocks have been recorded, the strongest being magnitude 3.5.

– Authorities report no serious injuries or structural damage.

– The quake was felt in Turkey, Israel, and Egypt. Its depth likely reduced surface impact.

– A tsunami alert was triggered by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. No tsunami occurred.

-No travel advisories were issued, but tourists were urged to stay alert and follow official instructions.

The mayor of Arkalochori in Crete — one of the worst-hit areas in the devastating 2021 earthquake – said that today’s 6.1 tremor was a “piece of cake” for the residents.

Vasilis Keggeroglou told Creta Post: “The earthquake had intensity but no acceleration and fortunately it had a large focal depth.”

He added: “This earthquake was a piece of cake for us.”

“There are no reports of problems that would lead to the closure of schools. We are continuing as normal,” Mr Keggeroglou said.

Arkalochori, a town in central Crete, was at the epicentre of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in September 2021, which left one person dead and caused widespread destruction.

Thousands were forced into temporary shelters after the infrastructure collapsed in the region. The community of Arkalochori also endured weeks of aftershocks.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently does not have any travel advice regarding Crete or Greece as a whole, meaning it should be safe to travel to the country and its islands.

There were some minor landslides, and some roads in Heraklion have been cordoned due to damage to some abandoned buildings, but no other major damage has occurred.

Greek media outlet Ta Nea also reported that the popular Samaria and Imbros gorges will remain closed today.

Geologists have explained the science behind the impact of today’s earthquake.

Charalambos Fasoulas, a geologist from the Natural History Museum of Crete said these earthquakes “do not usually give many and large aftershocks.”

He wrote on social media: “Usually these earthquakes are “solitary” and have no other consequences on the upper crust.

“They are earthquakes with which both we and our buildings must learn to live.””