At least one dead as powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattles Greek island of Crete

At least one dead as powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattles Greek island of Crete damaging buildings and sending crowds into the streets

  • The 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the island at 9:17 am local time
  • At least one person has been killed by falling debris according to Greek media, with several others thought to be trapped in collapsed buildings
  • The quake sent people rushing into the streets and triggered school evacuations
  • Several aftershocks were also registered, some as strong as magnitude 4.8
  • More to follow 


A 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Crete in southern Greece on Monday morning, damaging several buildings and trapping citizens in collapsed structures with at least one person reported dead.

The epicentre of the quake, which hit at 9:17am local time (6:17am GMT), was 14 miles northwest of Arvi – roughly 153 miles southeast of Athens – and six miles deep, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute. 

One person has been reported killed in the island’s central village of Arkalohori due to falling debris according to Greek channel ERT, with at least two others thought to be trapped in collapsed buildings. 

The quake sent citizens rushing out into the streets and triggered the evacuation of schools. 

Earlier the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said the earthquake reached a magnitude of 6.5, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) put it at 6.0. 

Several aftershocks also struck the area, with the EMSC giving a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 for the strongest one. 

A damaged Greek Orthodox chapel after a strong earthquake in Arkalohori village in central Crete. At least one person has been killed by falling debris while rescue workers seek to recover more from the rubble

A damaged Greek Orthodox chapel after a strong earthquake in Arkalohori village in central Crete. At least one person has been killed by falling debris while rescue workers seek to recover more from the rubble

Firefighters look for people in the rubble of a demolished church in Arkalohori. Two people are thought to be trapped under the rubble in the village

Firefighters look for people in the rubble of a demolished church in Arkalohori. Two people are thought to be trapped under the rubble in the village

Several structures in Heraklion were damaged by the 6.5 magnitude quake, while reports from villages in central Crete say several people are trapped in collapsed buildings

Several structures in Heraklion were damaged by the 6.5 magnitude quake, while reports from villages in central Crete say several people are trapped in collapsed buildings

Several aftershocks also struck the area, with the EMSC giving a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 for the strongest one

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Crete in southern Greece on Monday morning, damaging several buildings and trapping citizens in collapsed structures

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Crete in southern Greece on Monday morning, damaging several buildings and trapping citizens in collapsed structures

Local media in Crete has reported considerable damage, with collapsing walls of old stone buildings, churches, and temples in villages near the epicentre of the quake on the eastern part of the island.  

Rescue operations are now underway in Arkalohori, which appears to be the worst hit by the quake, as well as the village of Patsideros. 

According to the mayor of Minoa Pediados, Manolis Fraggakis, the damage in Arkalohori and the surrounding areas is significant and has affected modern buildings as well as older structures, pillars and temples.

Authorities have deployed helicopters to assess the extent of the damage and direct rescue teams, and have already received reports of significant damage to water supply networks as well as buildings.

Earlier today, the mayor of Arkalohori village at the centre of the island told Skai TV that several buildings had been damaged and two people were trapped, one in a church when the dome collapsed during maintenance work, and another in a home.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Crete’s coastal capital Heraklion, Vassilis Lambrinos, told Skai TV that there were no immediate reports from emergency services of any injuries or severe damage in his city, but confirmed all schools have been evacuated as authorities check buildings for structural damage. 

Rescue operations are now underway in Arkalohori, which appears to be the worst hit by the quake, as well as the village of Patsideros

Rescue operations are now underway in Arkalohori, which appears to be the worst hit by the quake, as well as the village of Patsideros

A local reacts following an earthquake in Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece, September 27, 2021. The earthquake sent residents flocking into the streets to avoid being trapped in their homes, while all schools have been evacuated

A local reacts following an earthquake in Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece, September 27, 2021. The earthquake sent residents flocking into the streets to avoid being trapped in their homes, while all schools have been evacuated

source: dailymail.co.uk