Liputan6.com, Jakarta A significant earthquake measuring 5.2 magnitude struck off the coast of Greece on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Strong tremors were felt as far away as the capital, Athens.
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Despite the high intensity of the tremors, initial reports indicate no casualties or significant damage were reported, as reported by The Independent.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located offshore, approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Athens, four kilometers from the seaside resort of Nea Styra in southwest Euboea, Greece's second-largest island.
The earthquake struck at 00:30 local time (21:30 GMT).
The relatively shallow depth of the earthquake, approximately 2.30 kilometers (about 7 miles or 11 km).
Impact and Initial Response of the Athens Earthquake
The tremors of this 5.2 magnitude earthquake were strongly felt in Athens, the capital of Greece, on September 9, 2025.
The mayor of Marathon, Stergios Tsirkas, even described the shaking as "very intense" in comments on ERT television.
However, authorities quickly confirmed that there were no initial reports of casualties or significant infrastructure damage as a result of the earthquake.
“This is an area that, based on historical and instrumental data, does not usually generate stronger earthquakes,” Efthymios Lekkas, the head of Greece’s earthquake planning and protection authority, told the Greek state broadcaster ERT.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos, chairman of the International Society for Prevention & Mitigation of Natural Hazards, urged the public to remain calm.
“Aftershocks continue but not with significant magnitudes, 2.8 was the largest. They may become larger and will be felt. Therefore, we need to stay calm.”
The largest aftershock recorded a magnitude of 2.8, with several others ranging from 1.6 to 2.0.
Characteristics and Aftershocks
The mainshock of September 9, 2025, was initially reported as having a magnitude of 5.2, although some agencies later revised it to 5.1 or 5.4.
The epicenter was at sea, between Schinias and Stira, Evia, about 5 kilometers west-northwest of Stira.
The earthquake's shallow depth, about 2.30 kilometers (about 7 miles), was one of the main factors why the tremors were felt so strongly over a wide area, including Athens.
Two aftershocks, measuring 2.5 and 2.6 on the Richter scale, were recorded within the first 15 minutes.
In addition, four other aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 1.6 to 2.0, indicated a gradual release of energy following the mainshock.
Greece's Seismic History
Greece is a country regularly hit by earthquakes due to its position on several faults in the southeastern Mediterranean.
The country is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe, located on the complex boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.
While most earthquakes in Greece are moderate in magnitude and cause little damage, tremors are common.
The country experiences thousands of small earthquakes each year, which are part of the region's normal seismic activity.
Northeastern Crete experienced a 6.1-magnitude earthquake earlier this year in May. No injuries or major damage were reported, but popular tourist attractions like Samaria Gorge and Imbros were temporarily closed as a precaution.
Seismic data from the National Observatory of Athens shows that the island experienced 1,200 earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from 1.0 to 5.2, between January 25 and February 7 earlier this year.