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Authorities say no major damage has been reported and there is very little risk of a tsunami.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Greek island of Crete early this morning, Thursday 22 May.
The tremor was felt across several Aegean islands, areas of mainland Greece, Turkey and Israel.
There have been no reports of major damage, and authorities have said there is very little risk of further surface impact, including a tsunami.
It is the second time this month that Crete has been hit by seismic activity, but the latest earthquake was stronger than the first, eight days ag
Here is the latest travel information from the local government.
Earthquake shakes Crete island for second time in a month
The earthquake’s epicentre was 56 kilometres northeast of the Cretan capital Heraklion, and the tremor was felt in the cities of Chania and Rethymno on the island, too, as well as in Athens.
According to reports, the earthquake caused landslides on the provincial road network and damage to buildings in Heraklion.
Mayor of Agios Nikolaos, Manolis Menegakis, confirmed to local media that despite the powerful tremors, there have been no other reports of major damage or injuries.
Authorities say they are monitoring the situation closely. “We are vigilant,” Menegakis added
Unlike the most recent quake eight days ago, officials say post-seismic activity is not expected.
Athanassios Ganas, research director at the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, said: “It is a classic intermediate-depth earthquake, as often occurs in the southern Aegean. There are no expected impacts on structures, nor is it expected to cause a tsunami or affect areas such as Santorini.“
?Crete earthquake: Is it safe to travel and am I entitled to compensation
Foreign governments have not issued travel advisories as yet, so it is currently still considered safe to visit Greece and its islands.
This also means that, should you choose not to go ahead with your trip, you are unlikely to receive compensation.
Depending on your travel insurance policy, you may be able to receive a refund for some or all of your trip if it includes compensation for cancellations due to natural disasters. Check with your provider and read your terms and conditions carefully.
If you are on holiday in or about to travel to Crete, Kasos or Karpathos, make sure you stay up to date with the latest information.
Crete and its surrounding region are considered one of Europe’s most seismically active zones.
In October 2021, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook the island just weeks after another tremor killed one person and injured several others.