Crete rocked by 6.3 magnitude earthquake
An earthquake with a magnitude of more than six degrees struck near the island of Crete, sending items flying off supermarket shelves
According to the US Geological Survey the quake in southern Greece had a 6.4 magnitude, while the Athens Observatory gave it a magnitude of 6.2.
The epicenter was some 37 miles off the city of Hania in western Crete, the state-run Athens News Agency said.
The earthquake struck at 4:11 pm (1311 GMT) and its epicenter was in the sea, 275 kilometers south of Athens, the observatory said, describing the quake as "strong."
Tremors were felt as far as the Greek capital Athens, some 180 miles away, and across southern Greece, including the Peloponnese peninsula and the Cyclades cluster of islands.
"The quake took place in an area known for its seismic activity. It was strongly felt in Crete but also in the rest of Greece," geology professor Efthymios Lekkas told Skai radio.
According to the Athens News Agency, life in Hania returned to normal a few hours after the quake, which had initially sent people rushing into the streets in panic.
Shops and houses suffered minor damages and local television showed images of items falling off supermarket shelves.
According to Skai radio station, an elderly person was lightly injured while attempting to jump out a window.
Local authorities also rushed to open up roads close to Hania, blocked by fallen rocks.
Greece is one of Europe's most earthquake-prone countries.
On Friday, a 4.4-magnitude earthquake, described as "mild" by the observatory, struck the north of the country causing no damage.
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I am so glad that nobody was seriously hurt. Let's hope that the rattling earth will have settled down for a while.
That's it for this morning, I have my shopping to do, and a pile of ironing to attack. Then it is choir practice tonight.
Keep safe dear Cretan friends, and also, dear readers, wherever you are. Have a sunshiny Monday! And if it happens to be raining where you are, you could do worse than curl up with a good book. And you could do a lot worse than to read this one: Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey
Lots of love, Jane x
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