Greek holiday island of Crete is hit by 5.3-magnitude earthquake

The quake hit at 2.13pm local time near the town of Magoúla, 14 miles north of Athens with a magnitude of 5.1, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Institute.

Those caught up in the quake described it as powerful and prolonged, with some running out into the streets in order to avoid buildings collapsing on them. 

Telecommunication networks were knocked out by the tremor, while power was also cut to some parts of the Greek capital.
An earthquake has struck the popular tourist Island of Crete, Greek authorities have said.

The shock was given a preliminary magnitude 5.2 and left people shaking.

No injuries or damage has been reported.

The Athens Geodynamic Institute says the tremor happened at 7.40am local time, (4.40am GMT) on Wednesday in Heraklion about 14 miles west of the Island's capital Iraklion. 
Authorities inspected areas close to the epicenter by helicopter and police patrols but no deaths or serious injuries were reported.

'The house was shaking and the cupboards were rattling. None of the cats nor neither of the dogs paid any attention to it. [There was] no damage to our property which is an ancient part of a Turkish villa and the walls are three feet thick.

British tourist Kate Smith, 44, said: 'I was upstairs, sitting on the bed, and the bed shook. The wardrobe shook and I knew straightaway it was an earthquake. I shouted downstairs "did anyone else feel that?" and we all did.' 

Earlier this month, a strong earthquake shook the Greek capital of Athens. 


Strong quakes are common in Greece which lies in one of the most seismically active parts of the world.

Severe damage or injuries are rare.

Stephen Davies, 66, who retired to the Island from Hampshire four years ago told the Mirror he heard a 'loud bang' followed by 'the whole house shaking'.

Dailymail