A 6.1 magnitude quake hit the waters off the coast of the Greek island of Crete early today, Thursday, May 22nd.
The earthquake was experienced throughout multiple Aegean islands, parts of mainland Greece, Turkey, and Israel.
No significant damage has been reported, and officials have stated that the chances of another surface effect, such as a tsunami, are minimal.
This marks the second occasion this month that Crete has experienced seismic activity; however, the recent quake was more powerful than the initial one from eight days prior.
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The most recent travel updates provided by the local government are as follows.
An earthquake rattles the island of Crete for the second time within a month.
The quake’s hypocenter was located 56 kilometers northeast of Heraklion, which is Crete’s main city. The shaking from this event could also be sensed in Chania and Rethymnon on the same island, along with Athens.
Reports indicate that the earthquake led to landslides affecting the provincial road system and resulted in structural damages to various buildings.
Heraklion
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The mayor of Agios Nikolaos, Manolis Menegakis, told local journalists that although there were strong tremors, they haven’t received any further reports of significant harm or casualties.
The authorities mention they are carefully tracking the circumstances. “We remain watchful,” Menegakis also stated.
In contrast to the major earthquake from eight days ago, authorities state that aftershocks are unlikely.
Athanassios Ganas, who serves as the research director at the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, stated: “This is a typical intermediate-depth earthquake, similar to those frequently observed in the southern Aegean region. It does not pose anticipated risks for structural damage, nor is it likely to generate a tsunami or impact surrounding areas.”
Santorini
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Crete earthquake: Is it still safe to visit, and do I have a right to compensation?
Other countries’ administrations have not released any travel warnings so far, which means that visiting Greece and its islands is still deemed safe at this moment.
This implies that if you decide against proceeding with your journey, obtaining compensation will be improbable.
Depending on your travel insurance policy, you may be able to receive a refund for some or all of your trip if it includes compensation for cancellations due to natural disasters. Check with your provider and read your terms and conditions carefully.
If your vacation is currently taking place in or if you’re preparing for an upcoming trip to
Crete
Kasos or Karpathos, ensure you keep abreast of the most recent updates.
The area around Crete is regarded as one of the most earthquake-prone regions in Europe.
In October 2021, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 rattled the island only a few weeks following another seismic event that resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries.
