Greece shaken by 5.7 magnitude tremors, felt as far as Athens

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 has struck southern Greece, being felt as far away as Athens, Malta and Crete according to initial reports.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but the quake appeared to be followed by a string of aftershocks.

The quake struck just after 7am on Friday morning and was centred beneath the seabed near the Strofades islands, about 75 miles south-southwest of the western city of Patras, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

A 4.5 magnitude quake subsequently hit the central Mediterranean Sea at 9:15am. 

Greece lies in a highly seismically active region and earthquakes are common. The vast majority cause no injuries and little to no damage.

File photo of the Parthenon in Athens. A 5.7 magnitude quake struck Greece today

The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (CSEM) reported a number of apparent aftershocks in and around Greece this morning, including a 2.4 magnitude tremor in the region of Crete and a 2.5 magnitude quake in the Aegean Sea.

Three smaller earthquakes were also reported in southern Greece within the space of nine minutes, between 8:21am and 8:30am.

Two had struck just minutes before, recording magnitudes of 3.1 and 2.5 in the Peloponnese.

The initial 5.7 magnitude quake was initially reported as 5.9. 

The quake originated some 10.5miles below the sea bed, close to the Strofades island.

Greece was previously hit by a magnitude 4.8 quake of note some 50 miles (80km) northeast of the capital in January.

Experts said the tremor would have caused light shaking, likely breaking windows and causing objects to fall from shelves.