Moderate 6.2 quake strikes south of Crete: USGS

A moderate 6.2-magnitude earthquake rumbled off the southern coast of the Greek island of Crete, according to the US Geological Survey, but there was no immediate warning of a tsunami.

A moderate 6.2-magnitude earthquake rumbled off the southern coast of the Greek island of Crete, according to the US Geological Survey, but there was no immediate warning of a tsunami.

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The earthquake struck yesterday at 6:11 pm local time (2141 IST) around 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of the town of Pirgos at a depth of 10 kilometres, the USGS said, adding that there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

According to the Athens Observatory, it was a "very strong" quake which it put at a magnitude of 5.9 and said its epicentre was located 483 kilometres southeast of Athens in the Mediterranean.

The quake was especially felt in the city of Ierapetra on Crete, it added.

About 10 days ago, a quake was also registered off of Crete, which did not cause any casualties or damage.

Greece is the European country that is most frequently hit with earthquakes.