Strong Earthquake hits the Greek island of Crete

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of at least 5.8 hit the Greek island of Crete this Monday (September 27), killing one person and injuring several others, as well as damaging houses and churches and causing rockslides near the fourth largest city ​​in the country.

The earthquake caused people to flee to the streets of the city of Heraklion and schools were evacuated. Repeated aftershocks shook the area, increasing damage to villages near the epicenter.

“The earthquake was strong and long-lasting,” Heraklion Mayor Vassilis Lambrinos told private television Antena.

The Geodynamic Institute of Athens, which gave the magnitude 5.8, said the earthquake struck at 9:17 am (0617 GMT), with an epicenter 246 kilometers (153 miles) south southeast of the Greek capital, Athens.

“This is not an event that took place without prior notice. We've seen activity in this region for several months. This was a strong earthquake, not under the sea, but on land and it affected populated areas,” seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos told Greek state broadcaster ERT.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center and the US Geological Survey estimate a preliminary magnitude of 6.0, with an epicenter seven kilometers (four miles) north of the village of Thrapsano. It is common for different seismological institutes to provide varying magnitudes for an earthquake in the first hours and days after an event.

Greece's 'Climate Crisis' and Civil Protection Ministry said one person was killed and nine others were injured. The man who died was removed from the rubble of a partially destroyed church in the village of Arkalochori, very close to the epicenter, authorities said.