An earthquake of 5.7 degrees on the Richter scale rocked the Peloponnese at 06:45 am today. It was felt in Athens and Crete as well. The Athens Geodetic Institute determined that its epicentre was in the sea area east of Laconia and west of Milos island, 145 kilometres southeast of Athens. Three minutes later there was a second earthquake with the same epicentre, this time of 4.7 degrees on the Richter scale, and at 07:13 am a third quake with a magnitude of 2.7 degree on the Richter scale. (The epicentre is indicated with a star on the map).
According to the European Mediterranean Seismic Centre, however, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.8 degrees on the Richter scale. There had been no warning quakes in the area in recent days.
Research Director of the Athens Geodetic Institute Gerasimos Papadopoulos said that the earthquake was long and that it was felt on a large area. According to him, the first data available to seismologists show that the quake is not of concern because it had a medium depth and its epicentre was in the sea. Director of the Institute Maria Sahpazi said that probably the earthquake at 06:45 am with a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale was the main quake but the scientists at the Athens Geodetic Institute continue to monitor the activity of the outbreak.
Seismologist George Houliaras commented on the earthquake with no concern, stating that this area is not characterized by high seismic activity. Professor of seismology Evtimios Lekkas calculated that the depth of the epicentre was between 80 km and 85 km.