Heavy earthquake in front of Crete: « The walls have wobbled »
On the morning of May 22, 2025, A strong earthquake The strength 6.2 The southern Aegean. According to information from US earthquake station (US Geological Survey) The earthquake began around 5.19 a.m. local time. The epicenter was therefore around 83 kilometers northeast of the Cretan capital Heraklion, at a depth of about 64 kilometers. The shocks were not just up Crete noticeable. In addition to Greece, US Geological Survey also reports Turkey, Egypt and Libya as affected areas.
Earthquake in Crete: Will there be aftershock?
The earthquake was noticeable in Crete at 6.20 a.m., reports a vacationer from our editorial team: « We still slept. When we woke up because of the quake, the walls waved. » The vacationer was located near the port city of Rethymnon during the quake. For about two minutes she felt the earthquake. « The water in the pool has gone so that the terraces were flooded with the rooms. The water came to the patio door, » she reports.
Despite the strength of the earthquake, there was cautious all -clear from the public side shortly later. Thanasis Ganas, research manager at the Geodynamic Institute in Athens, told Greek media like the daily newspaper Protothemathat he is not expecting a series of aftershogs. Smaller aftershocks cannot be completely ruled out. But these would probably hardly be noticeable.
Crete: Is there a risk of tsunami after the quake?
An additional excitement caused a tsunami warning that loudly Protothema was published by Greek disaster protection as a precaution immediately after the quake. People who were in the region received a corresponding warning SMS. Fortunately, there was no tidal wave – the warning was lifted again a little later.
The Current quake is not the first Recently: According to the Greek television station, a week earlier Eptnews An earthquake of the strength 6.1 occurs in front of Crete. The region is located in a seismically active zone, which always makes such events possible. Crete is well prepared for such cases.
This was also confirmed by seismologist Andreas Steinberg from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Raw Materials (BGR) in conversation with the Frankfurter Rundschau. Accordingly, tectonic quakes in the Mediterranean and especially before Crete have been historically known since ancient times. « At the point in front of Crete, where the quake took place today (note: on May 22nd), a larger earthquake (magnitude larger than 7) occurred nearby in 1856, » says Steinberg. Therefore, the current quake is « not unexpected and actually nothing unusual ». It reminds much more that « Greece – as much as it is a popular tourism area – is in a seismic highly active zone ».
Can you go on vacation at the moment?
What does the current events mean for Vacation in Crete? The situation is currently under control. There are no reports of dead, injured or greater damage to buildings or infrastructure. The operation at Airports And ferries run as usual, hotels continue their operation without restrictions.
Also that Foreign office reports that there can always be earthquakes on the Greek islands. However, there is no travel warning for the region. Vacationer So you can continue-and, if it goes to Sebastian Manstetten from the German crisis warning provider A3M, should not be stopped in the future. The Frankfurter Rundschau The expert explained: « Due to the situation of Greece, there is simply a basic risk in terms of earthquake. You have to be aware of this. However, as a tourist traveler, I would not let it spoil the vacation. » In addition, Greek civil protection and the civil protection authorities are very well positioned.
Also interesting: Earths recently caused uncertainty in Crete. Scientists have now found out where the cracks come from.
