A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Greek island of Kasos in the early hours of Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage
The offshore tremor occurred at a depth of 74 kilometres (approximately 45 miles) and was centred around 23 kilometres from Fry, the capital of Kasos. The quake struck at approximately 1:50am local time (22:50 GMT on Tuesday).
Initially, the USGS estimated the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.1 and reported it as slightly closer to the island before refining the data.
The quake was reportedly felt across parts of the eastern Mediterranean, including as far afield as Cairo. However, Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics confirmed there was no damage and no aftershocks had been recorded.
Greece sits on several active fault lines and frequently experiences seismic activity. Between 26 January and 13 February, more than 18,400 minor tremors were registered off the Cyclades archipelago, according to the Seismology Laboratory at the University of Athens (EKPA). While that seismic swarm did not cause injuries or major destruction, it raised concerns among residents and local authorities.
The latest quake appears to have caused minimal disruption, but Greek seismologists continue to monitor the region closely due to its geological volatility.