Mediterranean Sea: A magnitude-5.9 offshore earthquake occurs in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the southwest coast of Turkey at around 15:37 Jan. 25

Event

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurred in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the southwest coast of Turkey and southeast of the Greek island of Rhodes at around 15:37 TRT Jan. 25. The epicenter was about 63 km (39 miles) southeast of Lardos, Rhodes. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 25 km (26 miles), and moderate shaking was probably felt in coastal areas of Rhodes and southwestern Turkey near the epicenter, as well as light shaking throughout parts of southwestern Turkey and the southern Aegean Islands and eastern Crete in Greece. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, minor damage to infrastructure is possible in areas close to the epicenter. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light-to-moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.