Late-Night Tremor Felt Across the Island
A strong magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck shortly after 2:00 a.m. in the early hours of Thursday, shaking parts of northern Crete and waking residents in Heraklion and surrounding areas.
Epicenter & Depth
According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the quake’s parameters are:
- Magnitude: 4.8 (revised solution)
- Epicenter: 20 km north-northwest of Sises, Rethymno
- Depth: 34.1 km (revised); the automatic solution initially reported 59.5 km
Despite the moderate depth, the shaking was sharp and distinct, typical of regional seismic events in the Greek arc.
Felt Across the Island
Residents from Heraklion, Ammoudara, Malevizi, and parts of Rethymno reported a sudden jolt strong enough to wake light and medium sleepers.
Several Android users also received automatic alerts from the Android Earthquake Alerts System at the moment of the tremor.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos noted on social media that no further danger is indicated and that the event appears consistent with routine seismicity in the region.
Firsthand Account From Heraklion
An Argophilia contributor living in central Heraklion described the moment the quake hit:
“It was about 2:09 a.m. when the bed moved sharply under me. The windows rattled, the canary woke up instantly, and I heard a car alarm go off outside. It was a clean earthquake — not a truck, not a vibration from the street. I know the difference. Neighbors switched their lights on, and some stepped outside immediately. The shaking was short, maybe five seconds at its peak, but strong enough to wake me from sleep.”
This type of “short, hard jolt” is characteristic of a nearby, moderately shallow quake, even when the epicenter is offshore.
No Damage Reported
There have been no reports of damage or injuries.
Authorities continue monitoring, but the event appears to have passed without complications.
Crete remains one of the most seismically active regions in Europe, and such nighttime jolts — while unsettling — are considered normal for the island. Parts of the island are now classified in Hazard Zone 3.
