Powerful 6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Crete – Schools to Operate Normally

A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Crete early Thursday morning (May 22, 2025), unsettling residents across the island. According to the revised analysis by the Institute of Geodynamics, the quake occurred at 6:19 AM, 56 km northeast of Lasithi in Crete, with an epicentral depth of 60 km. The tremor was particularly strong and lasted for a noticeable duration, as reported by ERT correspondents on the island. Objects fell from shelves, and at least nine aftershocks followed, with the strongest registering at 3.5 on the Richter scale. The quake was also felt in Argos, Corinth, Athens, and much of southern Greece. Minor landslides were recorded on the regional road network, and parts of a building fell onto August 25th Street in Heraklion. As a precaution, the Civil Protection Service closed the affected area for safety reasons. Renowned seismologist Euthymios Lekkas stated that there is no significant tsunami risk. He emphasized that the earthquake occurred due to the interaction between the European and African tectonic plates and is unrelated to previous quakes near Arkalochori and Santorini. The director of the National Observatory, V. Karastathis, described it as a typical mid-depth earthquake. Mayor of Agios Nikolaos, Manolis Menegakis, noted that while the quake was strongly felt throughout the region, no damage has been reported so far. According to ERT, schools in Crete will operate normally as no issues or cracks have been reported in school buildings.