Crete earthquake – live: One person killed and hotels evacuated as powerful earthquake hits Greek island
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Your support makes all the difference.One person is dead and at least 20 have been injured in a strong earthquake that struck the Greek island of Crete on Monday morning. Greece’s climate crisis and civil protection ministry confirmed the death of a man who had been completing church renovations in the town of Arkalochori, and was crushed when the dome caved in.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported that a 6.0 magnitude quake struck at 9.17 am with an epicentre 16 miles south south east of the city of Heraklion and a depth of 6.2 miles. At least nine aftershocks have also struck the area, with the strongest one registering a magnitude of 4.6.
Hotels and schools near the epicentre have been evacuated as local media reported that a number of older buildings had suffered structural damage.
Sarah Williams-Long, a doctor at King’s Hospital in London who had been staying at the Creta Maris beach resort with her partner and three-year-old son when the earthquake struck, told The Independent that she had been evacuated in case of a second earthquake.
She said: “It was terrifying. Initially there was just a very slight rumble, like waiting for a train underground, but it quickly increased causing the building to shake,” adding that many people took shelter under tables before the building was evacuated.
Stronger aftershock reported
Just after 2pm in Crete, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported a 4.7-magnitude aftershock struck 13 miles south east of Heraklion.
This is the strongest aftershock reported since this morning’s 6.0-magnitude quake on the island, and marks the 21st tremor recorded on the island today.
A resident in Limani Chersonisou, Crete, told the EMSC that the tremors were “getting stronger again” while another eyewitness said that this aftershock “felt pretty long”.
A resident from Gazi described the tremor as “first a rugging motion and then swaying motion,” adding that it lasted for about a minute.
European Mediterranean Seismological Centre reports 20 quakes in Crete in the last five hours
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has reported 20 tremors in Crete over the last five hours, including the 6.0-magnitude earthquake at 9.17am that caused structural damage across the island and led to one death and at least nine injuries.
Of the aftershocks from the major quake, none have reached a magnitude higher than 4.6 the EMSC reported.
Images of the aftermath
Throughout the morning (and early afternoon in Greece) images of the aftermath of the earthquake in Crete have been released. Below are a few images of the destruction.
Minister for climate change and civil protection to assist with assessment and coordination in Crete
The Greek minister for climate change and civil protection will go to Crete to assist with assessment and coordination activities in the aftermath of this morning’s 6.0-magnitude earthquake.
Christos Stylianides, the minister for climate change and civil protection announced on Twitter that he would be going to Crete to help with the “assessment of the situation and coordination of the actions of all involved bodies”.
He added that deputy minister Evangelos Tournas would be joining him, alongside Vassilis Papageorgiou, the general secretary of civil protection, and Foivos Theodorou, the general coordination director.
Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to send 20 engineers to assist in Crete
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced that had sent 20 engineers to Crete to assist in the “planning of actions” following the strong earthquake this morning.
In a statement, the Ministry said that Costas Karmanlis, minister of infrastructure and transport, and George Karagiannis, the deputy minister, would also be in Crete to assist with developing a plan to “deal with the consequences of the earthquake”.
The statement said that building and infrastructure inspections would start immediately in order to assess damage.
Meanwhile, the Ministry would be working with the municipality of Minos – Pedida to create a coordination centre to better inform and serve citizens who had been affected by the earthquake.
Greek firefighters respond to earthquake on Crete
In a video, Greek firefighters and first responders can be seen walking past buildings that have been damaged in the earthquake. One building has been reduced to rubble, while another is seen with dramatic structural damage. Heavy equipment can be heard in the background.
Heraklion schools evacuated
Following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake earlier this morning, and ensuing aftershocks across the island of Crete, schools in the city of Heraklion have been evacuated.
Heraklion mayor Vassilis Lambrinos told Antenna television: “The earthquake was strong and long in duration.
“We have requested that schools are evacuated. The children are out in the playgrounds.”
Fire Brigade to bring disaster response units, sniffer dogs to assist in Crete
Greece’s Fire Brigade released a statement announcing that they would be flying in 30 firefighters from their disaster response units, as well as specialised equipment to assist in operations responding to the earthquake on Crete.
The statement said that sniffer dogs would be brought in to assist with search efforts.
The organisation added that patrols were being carried out across the wider area where the earthquake occurred, and said that all disaster units and fire department services on Crete had been placed on general alert.
The statement also urged all citizens to use caution and heed the instructions of all local authorities.
‘It was terrifying’: Holidaymakers evacuated from Crete hotel
Holidaymakers were evacuated from Crete hotels after the earthquake struck this morning.
Sarah Williams-Long, a doctor at King’s Hospital in London who had been vacationing at the Creta Maris Beach Resort with her partner and three-year-old son told The Independent that the experience had been harrowing.
“They’ve evacuated us from our hotel in case there’s a second earthquake - we’re waiting to be taken to a hotel away from the higher buildings,” she said.
“We’ll hopefully be allowed back in to hotel if nothing happens in the next 40 minutes. It was terrifying. Initially there was just a very slight rumble, like waiting for a train underground, but it quickly increased causing the building to shake.
“Everyone instinctively got under the tables until we were asked to leave the building. Some people were visibly shaken - one of the chefs collapsed. It was very dramatic.”
Photo shows dust released in earthquake
Twitter user Yorgos Sasslis shared a photo shortly after the quake shook the island of Crete this morning.
He said: “At only 10km depth, we REALLY FELT this one,” adding that everything where he was seemed to be alright, save for “a few shattered picture frames”.
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