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In the last half hour it’s been reported that a large quake measuring 6.6R has struck off the coast of Crete. The first notification we received was from the USGS – United States Geological Survey.
Some local Greek press have said that it may be downgraded to 6.0R quake but this hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Reports are still coming in, as yet we have no information on any affects that Crete may have felt, other than what has initially been described by some as a “large jolting quake”
Aftershocks are being felt by islanders including the latest one that was measured by USGS at 5.3R.
Cretalive has posted a statement from the president of the Organization for Earthquake Planning and Protection (OASP), Efthymios Lekkas, about the quake that he says occurred where large earthquakes take place in this region. Approximately six aftershocks took place after a magnitude 6.0R earthquake (now officially downgraded from 6.6R by EMSC).
Mr. Lekkas said, “the earthquake was of the order of 6 degrees on the Richter scale, it occurred south of Crete, 100 km from the coastline, at a focal depth of 10 km. It is an earthquake that was felt in the southern part of Crete, without any reports of damage or other effects so far. The earthquake occurred in the advanced section of the Greek arc on top of African plate. This is a front that gives big earthquakes, but fortunately this advanced front on which the earthquake occurred, is far from land, it is over 80 km away from the southern coastline of Crete. Therefore it does not affect the area. It also has a small depth, so it quickly descends into the subsoil.”
