Strong 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Greece, Tsunami Warning Issued

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Greece in the early morning hours of Friday, being felt as far as Italy, Albania, Malta and Macedonia.
Sputnik

According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was recorded in the Ionian Sea, roughly 50 miles from the Greek city of Pyrgos and 175 miles from capital city of Athens. The earthquake was detected at 1:54 a.m. local time.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) has reported a change in sea level, confirming the possibility of a tsunami.

Netizens have begun to share footage documenting the strong quake.

Volcano Erupts on Indonesian Island Just Hit by Tsunami (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
BNO News reported residents in Greece describing the quake to officials with the EMSC as "strong," adding that they experienced shaking for an estimated 15 to 30 seconds. "Extremely violent shaking," another person said. "Objects fell off of shelves. Loud rumbling sound." No damages or deaths have yet been reported. However, power outages have been reported on the island of Zakynthos, according to BNO.

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology on Friday warned about the possibility of a tsunami in the Mediterranean following a powerful earthquake that has struck off Greece.

READ MORE: Tsunami Warning Issued as 6.6 Quake Shakes Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Region

"The orange alert level has been introduced along the cost of the Italian regions of Calabria, Basilicata, Apulia and Sicily. The rising of sea level of up to 1 meter [3.3 feet] is possible. We recommend avoiding approaching the seacoast and beaches," the institute said in an emergency statement.

According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a tsunami of around 20 centimeters (0.6 feet) in height was registered off the Greek coast in the early hours of Friday.

Apart from Greece, tremors had been reportedly felt in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Italy, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Turkey and even the Dominican Republic.

Discuss