A 5.7 Richter earthquake was recorded in the sea region off the southwest coast of Greece on Friday at 9:12 a.m., according to the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, causing concern amongst seismologists.
Communities in the western Peloponnese prefectures of Ilia and Messinia began inspections to assess for damages, with media reports saying very little damage was recorded. Public buildings were evacuated in several communities and some schools will remain closed, as a precaution.
According to “To Vima”, minor damage was caused to the fortress on Strofades island.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located at latitude 37.2299 north and longitude 21.1752 east, 239 km west-southwest of Athens and about 14 km east of the Strofades islets in the Ionian Sea.
Prof. Efthymios Lekkas, the president of Geology and Geo-environment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said the earthquake was not associated with known faults affecting the Peloponnese.
