Greeks escape unharmed from quake

A strong earthquake struck southern Greece today sending people fleeing from buildings, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Shocks were felt in Athens and as far away as Cairo in Egypt.

The Athens Geodynamic Institute gave a initial magnitude of 6.5 and said the quake had an epicentre beneath the seabed 140 miles south-west of the capital.

The US Geological Survey initially put the preliminary magnitude at 7.3, but later revised it downward to 6.7. It struck shortly after noon (10am Irish time).

Seismologists said aftershocks were possible and warned people in areas near the epicentre to stay away from buildings.

“It was incredibly strong and lasted a long time,” said Theodoros Salantis, mayor of Koroni, a seaside town near Kalamata, the closest city to the epicentre.

Seismologist Efthymios Lekkas said the quake struck at a depth of about 18 miles beneath the seabed, adding that initial indications were that it was the main earthquake rather than a preliminary tremble.

In January, a 6.5 quake struck another part of southern Greece. Its epicentre was located deep underground and while it had been felt across much of the country, it had not caused any injuries or serious damage.

Earthquakes are common in Greece, which is riddled with fault lines. In 1999, a 5.9-magnitude quake near Athens killed 143 people and left thousands more homeless.