Strong Quake Shakes Athens, Knocks Out Phone Service
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 19, 2019 | 06:45 PM
A strong, shallow earthquake jolted Athens on Friday, knocking out phone and cellphone service and sending worried residents rushing into the streets, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries
According to the Greek geodynamic institute, it was a 5.1-magnitude quake with an epicentre 23 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of Athens and was followed by aftershocks.
The quake struck at around 1100 GMT at a depth of 13 kilometres, news reports said.
Worried residents and office staff have crowded outdoor areas but the government denied it had ordered an evacuation alert.
The fire department rescued over a dozen people trapped in elevators in the capital, state broadcaster ERT said.
"People must remain calm," said Efthymios Lekkas, head of the state anti-quake protection agency.
"There is no reason for concern. The capital's buildings are build to withstand a much stronger earthquake," he told ERT.
The epicentre was near the area where a 5.9-magnitude quake left 143 people dead in and near Athens in 1999.
The US geological institute said Friday's quake had a magnitude of 5.3.
"For the time being we cannot be sure whether this was the main earthquake," seismologist Gerassimos Papadopoulos told ERT.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
3 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
3 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
3 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
3 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
3 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
3 hours ago
-
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
3 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
3 hours ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
3 hours ago -
Taiwan hit by several quakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude
4 hours ago -
'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase
4 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 2nd update
4 hours ago