6.0 magnitude earthquake rattles Greece's Crete island

Greece: Hotels and schools have been evacuated as a terrifying 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Greek island of Crete this morning.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) reported that a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck at 9:17 a.m. with an epicentre 16 miles south-southeast of the city of Heraklion and at a depth of 6, 2 miles. A number of aftershocks also hit the region, the strongest registering a magnitude of 4.6.

Local media in Crete reported that some old buildings had suffered structural damage, with walls collapsing in villages near the epicenter.

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Vassilis Lambrinos, mayor of Heraklion, told Greek TV Skai that there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or damage from emergency services, but added that all schools had been evacuated to check for structural damage.

Holidaymakers have also been evacuated from their resorts in Crete. Sarah Williams-Long, a doctor at King's Hospital in London who was residing at the seaside resort of Creta Maris with her partner and three-year-old son, told The Independent the experience was heartbreaking.

She said: “They evacuated us from our hotel in case there is a second earthquake - we are waiting to be taken to a hotel away from the taller buildings.

[caption id="attachment_37855" align="aligncenter" width="371"] Firefighters look for people in the rubble of a demolished church following an earthquake, in Arkalochori on the island of Crete, Greece, September 27, 2021. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis[/caption] “We hope to be able to return to the hotel if nothing happens in the next 40 minutes. It was terrifying. At first, there was only a very slight rumble, like waiting for an underground train, but it instantly increased, causing the structure to shake.

“Everyone instinctively slid under the furniture until we were asked to leave the hotel. Some people were visibly shaken - one of the bosses collapsed. It was very dramatic. "

Another Briton in Crete told EMSC: “Coming from England, I have never experienced an earthquake like this. I was rather scared. The building does not appear to have suffered any damage, ”adding that there were cracks in the paving.

Twitter user Yorgos Saslis said: “We REALLY FEELED this one,” noting that everything was fine where it was, except for “a few broken photo frames”.

Others on Twitter reported feeling tremors in Analipsi (18 km away) and as far as Santorini (150 km away).

The EMSC initially informed that the quake had a magnitude of 6.5 before adjusting it to 6.0 soon after. The Geodynamic Institute of Athens also reported that an earthquake hit the island of Crete, but said a preliminary magnitude of 5.8. However, this is not unusual as different seismological institutes often report varying amplitudes in the first hours and days after an earthquake.

The earthquake comes just two weeks after a magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck the neighbouring holiday island of Kos at a depth of 6.2 miles on September 11.

Inputs from The Independent