Greece: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs off Kasos island Dec. 26

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in the Mediterranean Sea at approximately 17:15 Dec. 26. The epicenter was about 31 km (19 miles) south of Fry on Kasos island and 173 km (107 miles) east of Iraklion on the island of Crete. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt throughout much of the southern Aegean Islands and on Crete in Greece, as well as coastal areas of Mugla Province in Turkey. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties and significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light 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. Out of an abundance of caution, 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.