Greece earthquake: Powerful 6.8-magnitude quake strikes off Zakynthos island, with tremors felt in Athens

Power lost in capital as harbour suffers damage

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has struck off the Greek island of Zakynthos – also known as Zante – shaking buildings and damaging the harbour.

The harbour serving the popular island in the Ionian Sea remained functional, authorities said, though images showed cracked and warped pavement near moored boats.

It was preceded by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake close by half-an-hour earlier.

Power was lost in the island capital and main town, also called Zakynthos, but no major damage was reported there.

“We’re checking out the villages on the island, where there are several older buildings,” civil protection agency press spokesman Spyros Georgiou said. “The lack of electricity is a problem, but technicians are trying to restore power.”

So far, three people have been taken to hospital, two of which were being treated for minor injuries, Greek authorities said.

Local news websites said a 15th century monastery had been damaged, with one, Zante News Time, displaying images of masonry that had fallen from a building facade and items dislodged from shelves in shops.

“We are not facing any particular problems,” Zakynthos mayor Pavlos Kolokotsas told Greek state broadcaster ERT. “Calm is being restored.”

The tremor was also felt in Athens, the Greek capital, and as far away as Albania, Italy, Libya and Malta.

Zakynthos is a popular destination for tourists, with more than 200,000 international visitors flocking to the island in 2017.

Several British holidaymakers caught up in the incident took to social media following the tremor to describe the situation on the island.

Tracey Archer tweeted to her tour operator: “Thomas cook please do something!! We are stuck in Zante after an earthquake and everyone is outside the hotel in blankets. There’s babies and young children.

“Please do something, we’re scared and cold and hotel management hasn’t got a grip of this.”

Meg Hansen tweeted “Everyone is really shaken as was so strong, we were instructed to leave the building for a while but think all good now.”

The advice to leave the building goes against official instructions.

The epicentre of the tremor was in the Ionian Sea, around 26 miles southwest of Zakynthos, the United States Geological Survey said.

Earthquakes are common in Greece, which has the most seismic activity in Europe.

The country’s General Secretariat for Civil Protection warns anyone who is inside during an earthquake to take cover under sturdy furniture, or if none is available, to kneel in the middle of the room.

Additional reporting by Reuters