Strong 6.8 earthquake strikes off Greek island of Zakynthos – felt across the Mediterranean

A strong earthquake with magnitude 6.8 struck off the western Greek tourist island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea early Friday, and was felt as far away as Athens, but authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.

The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of the undersea quake was 33 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Mouzaki in the southern part of the island. It had a depth of 14 kilometers and struck just before 2 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday).

Greece’s fire service said no damage has been reported so far, but power has been cut off in the island capital of Zakynthos. Rockfalls were reported in another part of the island, and part of a church wall collapsed on the mainland town of Pyrgos, in the southern Peloponnese area.

The quake was felt strongly throughout western Greece. – eKathimerini.

The Times of Malta said that the earthquake which rattled Greece early on Friday was also felt in Malta. Even other media outlets reported this, as many residents in Malta spoke about this through their social media platforms. Similarly Italian media outlets reported that the earthquake was felt in the southern regions of the peninsula.