Series of earthquakes strike off the coast of Lasithi, Crete

On Friday, April 24, a series of seismic events occurred off the coast of Lasithi, Crete. A primary earthquake, reported by various sources as either 5.7 or 5.5 magnitude, struck the region early in the morning, followed by several aftershocks throughout the day, including tremors measuring 4.2 and 4.0. The epicenter of the initial quake was generally located 7 to 22 kilometers south or southwest of Goudouras, with focal depths ranging from 5 to 9.7 kilometers. Seismologists, including Kostas Papazachos and Efthymios Lekkas, described the activity as typical for the Hellenic Arc. While the tremors were felt across Crete, including Heraklion, Sitia, and Agios Nikolaos, as well as on the islands of Kasos and Karpathos, authorities reported no significant structural damage. Local mayors and regional officials maintained a state of readiness and advised citizens to remain calm. Expert analysis suggests a continued, active aftershock sequence may follow in the coming days.