6.3 Magnitude Earthquake shakes central Greece.
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of up to 6.3 shook central Greece on Wednesday and was felt as far away as the capitals of neighboring Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro.
There were no immediate reports of injuries. Local officials reported some structural damage, mostly to old houses and buildings that saw walls collapse or crack.
The earthquake sent people running from their homes and office buildings onto the streets of Larissa and Tyrnavos, the cities closest to the epicenter, which was 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) west-northwest of Larissa. Numerous aftershocks struck the area, with the most powerful having a preliminary magnitude of more than 5.0.
The earthquake occurred shortly after 12:15 pm (1015 GMT), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, which placed the preliminary magnitude at 6.2.
The United States Geological Survey and Global Seismic Monitor Geofon put the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude at 6.3, while the seismological institute at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in northern Greece put the magnitude at 6.0. It is common for magnitude estimates to vary shortly after an earthquake.
The seismologist of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, Vassilis Karastathis, told reporters that the earthquake originated from a fault in the area that historically has not produced earthquakes of a magnitude much greater than Wednesday’s. He said post-earthquake activity seemed normal so far, but experts were monitoring the situation.
Nikos Gatsas, mayor of the town of Elassona, which lies north of the epicenter, told Greek state broadcaster ERT that the walls of old houses had collapsed in nearby villages and that a village school had suffered damage. All the students had been evacuated from the building and there were no injuries.
The fire department said it had received reports of damage to a home and school, while the fire service and police patrolled the area. All local fire departments went on alert.
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