There are no reports of injuries or damage so far (Picture: Getty Images)
A number of Greek islands have been hit by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake.
The epicentre was 36miles off the coast of Elounda in Crete, sparking fears that a tsunami could be triggered by the quake.
The earthquake was 43miles deep, according to the US Geological Survey, but Earthquake and Planning Protection Organisation director Efthymios Lekkas said deeper earthquakes typically cause less surface damage.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has now issued a tsunami warning covering Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and Portugal.
The Greek government also issued a national directive, ordering locals and tourists alike to ‘move away from the coast and reach a higher place’.
Regional government official Giorgos Tsapakos said ‘there are no reports of injuries or any serious damage after the quake struck shortly before 9am local time (6am GMT) today, but the Greek fire brigade said all of its forces on Crete are on high alert.
The earthquake has struck the Sea of Crete (Picture: Metro Graphics)
There have been some minor signs of damage caused by the earthquake, including several items falling off of supermarket shelves.
Tremors have been felt in Turkey and Egypt, and the Greek Institute of Geodynamics has recorded 19 smaller quakes ranging from 1.3 to 3.5 magnitude since then.
The institute has recorded 104 instances of seismic activity in the last 24 hours. While a cluster of them happened in around the same location as the 6.0 magnitude quake, many have also occurred in the sea around the islands of Fira and Amorgos, as well as around the Greek mainland.
This in itself isn’t unusual, as Greece sits on the fault line between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in Europe.
Several items were knocked off supermarket shelves by the tremors (Picture: Cretapost.gr)
It comes after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the coast of Greece last week, sparking another temporary tsunami warning and fears that the islands of Crete and Rhodes may not be safe to visit.
The UK Foreign Office has issued advice for Brits planning to travel to the Greek islands.
They say: ‘The area around the Cycladic islands of Santorina (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, experienced increased earthquake activity in early 2025.
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‘This increased has since subsided and the tourist season is expected to continue as usual.
‘There is a risk of earthquakes and earth tremors in Greece.
‘You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake, follow advice given by the local authorities, and call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger.’
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