Is Crete Safe for Travel After the 6.1 Earthquake? Expert Advice

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an announcement amid concerns from locals about a potential tsunami striking the island.
• EXPLORE FURTHER: Busy tourist destination issues red warning following multiple seismic activities

The Foreign Office released a statement following a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake recorded offshore near Crete earlier today, raising new concerns about potential tsunamis striking the Greek island.

The EMSC released a tsunami alert and cautioned individuals in Greece , Turkey, Italy and as far away as France and Portugal should check with their respective local authorities for updates.

The earthquake was reportedly felt throughout the Aegean Sea, encompassing sections of Turkey as well. Israel .

People living in Crete informed EMSC about this occurrence. woken up by the quake while some reported items tumbling off the lower shelves inside their houses, and the terror of witnessing 'the structure swaying and groaning.'

The local media displayed images of supermarket goods scattered across the floors, and they also mentioned small rock slides occurring on some country roads; however, at first glance, no significant destruction had been noted.

Currently, residents are concerned about a potential major tsunami striking Crete and Santorini. But how might this affect British tourists? planning on heading to the popular holiday hotspot ?

Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection advised both locals and visitors to act in accordance with information from local authorities.

They similarly encourage people to relocate from coastal areas — though they haven’t yet designated which sections of the shoreline.

In the meantime, the Foreign Office advises tourists to adhere to three crucial steps:

• Make sure you know what to do during an earthquake for your safety.
• Take guidance from the local authorities.
• Dial the Greek emergency services at 112 if you find yourself in imminent danger.

The Greek fire department stated that their entire force was on heightened alert throughout the island due to the earthquake; however, they had not received any distress calls as of then.

The state news agency ANA reported that firefighters were put on high alert across the board, with units driving around to evaluate conditions.

The quake struck 49 miles from the city of Heraklion at 6:19 a.m. (0319 GMT) on Thursday, shaking both residents and vacationers enjoying their holidays on the island as the summer season began, as reported on X.

ERT, the state television station, reported that numerous inhabitants in the Cretan areas of Rethymnon and Laconia were awakened by the earthquake early in the day and promptly left their residences as a safety measure.

'Everything was shaking violently; I've never experienced one this intense,' stated a witness from Malia.

Victoria, holidaying in Hersonissos, told MailOnline she and her boyfriend were woken up this morning 'to our bed shaking lots'.

She said part of the balcony door's metal frame came off when it happened, and that it was 'very scary'.

Melissa Ford, staying in Rethymno with family, told MailOnline: 'We were woken soon after 6am to the shaking of the walls in our hotel room and the government alarm going off on our phones warning us of an earthquake .

'It was quite the shock. I imagine it lasted about 30 seconds if not longer. Fortunately, it didn't wake our children and although there were after shocks, we didn't feel them.'

Regional media broadcasted local CCTV footage from a residence which displayed the overhead power lines swaying as the camera trembled.

Images revealed domestic goods scattered across the floor of a Cretan grocery store after being knocked off the shelves.

The mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokerinos, informed ERT that the city did not face any specific issues, making it unnecessary to close down schools.

"The earthquake happened at considerable depth, so there’s really no specific cause for concern among locals," stated Athanassios Ganas, who serves as the general director of Research at the Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, during an interview with ERT.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 68 kilometers (42 miles), according to the U.S.-based USGS.

It occurred slightly more than a week following a 6.1-magnitude earthquake. struck close to the island of Kasos, which lies east of Crete, and was noticed throughout the surrounding region. .

The area, which attracts many visitors, has experienced numerous earthquakes over the past few months. This situation led to temporary school closures in Santorini and nearby islands.

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