Crete quake: Strong magnitude 5.6 tremor rocks Greek Island

The Greek island of Crete had already been hit by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake earlier today before the magnitude 5.6 quake struck

The Greek island of Crete has been rocked by a series of strong earthquakes as several tremors were recorded just off the shores.

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook the ground just before 9 pm local time just 10km below the surface on Sunday, December 26, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) however said the quake hit magnitude 5.4.

The shallow quake followed another which had registered 5.2 on the Richter scale just hours before at 5.15 pm.

Data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre shows that the Aegean island was also hit with smaller tremors measuring 3 on the Richter scale at 6 pm.

No injuries or building damage have been reported so far, according to local news sites.

But shallow earthquakes feel much stronger as they are closer to the earth's surface.

The island was rocked by another large quake only a few months ago, back in October, when a powerful 6.3 shake hit the south coast of Crete.

Authorities at the time said the ripples were felt as far as Turkey and Cyprus.