6.1 magnitude earthquake hits Greece's Crete, second in a week

A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Greek island of Crete at 8.49 AM (local time) on Thursday, news agency ANI reported.According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck 82 kilometres (51 miles) northeast of Crete’s capital, Heraklion, at a depth of 68 kilometres beneath the seabed.

So far, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or structural damage, though assessments are still underway.This tremor follows a similar 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck just a week ago near the island of Kasos, off Greece’s southern coast. That quake also rattled parts of the eastern Mediterranean but caused no immediate reports of damage.Due to the increase in number of earthquakes in recent months, schools on Santorini and neighboring islands were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.Greece lies in one of the most seismically active regions of Europe, situated along the Hellenic Arc, where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. This geologically volatile zone is known for frequent seismic activity, occasionally producing destructive earthquakes.More information is awaited as monitoring agencies continue to assess the impact.