ATHENS, Greece (AP) – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of up to 6.3 hit central Greece on Wednesday and was felt as far away as the capitals of neighboring Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro.
There were no immediate reports of injuries. Local authorities have reported some structural damage, mainly in old houses and buildings that have seen walls collapse or crack.
The earthquake caused people to run from houses and office buildings to the streets of Larissa and Tyrnavos, the cities closest to the epicenter, which was 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) west-northwest of Larissa. Numerous aftershocks hit the area, with the most powerful having a preliminary magnitude of over 5.0.
The earthquake occurred shortly after 12:15 pm (1015 GMT), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, which estimates the preliminary magnitude of 6.2.
The United States Geological Survey and the Global Geophon Seismic Monitor estimate the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude at 6.3, while the seismological institute at Thessaloniki’s Aritotle University in northern Greece estimates the magnitude at 6.0. It is common for magnitude estimates to vary shortly after an earthquake.
The seismologist at the Athens Geodynamic Institute, Vassilis Karastathis, told reporters that the earthquake originated from a geological fault in the area that, historically, has not produced earthquakes of a magnitude much greater than Wednesday’s. He said post-earthquake activity had seemed normal until now, but experts were monitoring the situation.
Nikos Gatsas, mayor of the city of Elassona, which is north of the epicenter, told the Greek state broadcaster ERT that the walls of old houses had collapsed in nearby villages and that a school in the village had been damaged. All students were evacuated from the building and there were no injuries.
The fire department said it had received reports of damage to a home and school, while the fire service and the police patrolled the area. All local firefighters were put on alert.
The National Defense Chief of Staff and other civil defense officers, firefighters and political officials were heading for the area.
Greece is in a highly seismically active region. The vast majority of earthquakes do not cause damage or injury.
Last October, an earthquake that hit the Greek island of Samos, in the eastern Aegean, and the neighboring Turkish coast killed two high school students in Samos and at least 75 people in Turkey.