Earthquake with magnitude of 5.0 hits central Greece

An earthquake with a 5.0 magnitude has shaken the city of Trikala in central Greece on Friday morning causing landslides and damage to homes. Police have noted that there are no immediate reports of any serious damage or injuries.

The tremor occurred shortly after 10:12 a.m on Friday at a depth of 1.8 kilometres, 25 kilometres outside the central Greek city of Karditsa, the Department of Geophysics at the University of Thessaloniki confirmed. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre gave a reading of 5.1 for the same quake.

Just over an hour later another strong earthquake hit the same region. It registered with a 4.4 magnitude.

Almost immediately, an appeal to all residents of the Municipality of Mouzaki was addressed by the mayor, George Kotsos in order to understand the length of the problems created in infrastructure,  "We call upon all our citizens, whose homes and properties have been damaged by the earthquake, to report to our Technical Department with photographic documentation to initiate the process of a full recording of damages,” he stated.

Seismologist Emmanuel Scordilis said it was the biggest earthquake in recorded history to strike the region.

“Half of the country shook,” said Efthimios Lekkas, Seismology Professor and Chairman of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization. He also reassured that the situation was under control.

The quake was also felt in the central Greek cities of Trikala and Larissa and further north to Katerini, and as far as the Ionion islands.