Crete shuddered — very slightly — on Wednesday night, October 29, when a 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck just south of Tymbaki, in the Heraklion region.
According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the quake hit at 23:06, with a focal depth of 14.7 kilometers, or roughly the emotional depth of the average news headline that followed.
The Euro-Mediterranean Institute, never one to be outdone, generously upgraded the tremor to 3.7 Richter — perhaps for dramatic effect.
Media Panic vs. Cretan Reality
Within minutes, national news outlets unleashed their emergency fonts:
“Strong Earthquake Strikes Crete!”
“Citizens in Shock!”
“How to Protect Yourself During a 3.3-Richter Event!”
Meanwhile, in Crete:
- Two cats blinked.
- One raki glass vibrated slightly.
- A farmer south of Tymbaki reportedly said, “Eh, I thought it was the washing machine again.”
For locals, it was just another gentle nudge from Mother Earth — or, as Heraklion residents call it, “Wednesday.”
A Manual for Surviving Absolutely Nothing
Because no quake is too small for an educational moment, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection quickly reminded citizens of earthquake safety procedures:
If you are indoors: stay calm, hide under sturdy furniture, and protect your head.
If you are in a tall building: avoid glass walls.
If you are in a mall: resist the urge to stampede to the parking lot.
If you are outdoors: move away from buildings, cables, and, apparently, common sense.
If you are in a car: stop in an open area — preferably near a kafeneio so you can discuss it later.
These are excellent tips — for earthquakes you can actually feel.
The Richter Scale of Greek Media Reaction
| Magnitude | Reality | Media Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | Dog yawns | “Mysterious rumbling under Crete!” |
| 3.3 | Slight wobble | “Citizens panic — experts speak!” |
| 4.5 | Lamp moves | “State of alert declared!” |
| 6.0 | Real quake | “Exclusive: Why no one warned us!” |
The 3.3 event of October 29 sits comfortably in category two — a tremor so mild that even the pigeons didn’t file a complaint.
Crete Stays Unshaken
The truth? Crete lives with earthquakes the way the rest of the world lives with weather. We respect them, sure — but we don’t break out a microphone every time the ground sighs.
So yes, there was a 3.3 quake south of Tymbaki. No one was hurt, no damage occurred, and yet, dozens of journalists managed to experience an aftershock of pure excitement.
Until the next “massive” 3.1, Crete remains steady — its people, its coffee, and its ability to laugh at tremors smaller than a sneeze.