Is Crete Safe for Travel After the 6.1 Earthquake? Expert Advice from Malaysia

• The Foreign Office released a statement amid residents' fears that a tsunami might strike the island.
• EXPLORE FURTHER: Busy tourist destination raises alarm following multiple seismic activities

The Foreign Office released a statement following a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake recorded near the shores of Crete early today, raising new concerns about potential tsunamis striking the Greek island.

The EMSC released a tsunami alert and cautioned individuals in Greece , Turkey, Italy as distant as France and Portugal to refer to their local authorities for updates.

The earthquake was reportedly felt throughout the Aegean Sea, including sections of Turkey. Israel .

Residents in Crete informed EMSC about this occurrence. awakened by the tremor while some reported items tumbling off the shelves on the ground levels of their houses, and the terror of witnessing 'the structure swaying and groaning.'

Local media showed supermarket items strewn on floors, and reported minor rockslides on rural roads, though no major damage was initially reported.

Currently, locals are concerned that a significant tsunami might strike Crete and Santorini – but how does this affect British citizens? planning on heading to the popular holiday hotspot ?

Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection advised both locals and visitors to act in accordance with information from local authorities.

They also urge the public to move away from the coast - although they have not yet specified which part of the coastline.

In the meantime, the Foreign Office advises tourists to adhere to three crucial steps:

• Make sure you know the safety protocols in case of an earthquake.
• Take heed of the guidance provided by the local authorities.
• Dial 112 for Greek emergency services if you face an urgent threat.

The Greek fire department stated that all their personnel were on high alert throughout the island due to the earthquake; however, they had not received any distress calls as of then.

State news agency ANA said firefighters had been placed on general alert, with vehicles patrolling to assess the situation.

The earthquake, occurring 49 miles away from the city of Heraklion at 6:19 a.m. (0319 GMT) on Thursday, shook both residents and vacationers enjoying their holidays on the island as the summer season began, as reported on X.

The state broadcaster ERT reported that numerous inhabitants in the Cretan areas of Rethymno and Lasithi were roused by the earthquake early in the day and promptly left their residences as a safety measure.

'Everything was shaking violently; I've never experienced one this intense,' stated a witness from Malia.

Victoria, who was vacationing in Hersonissos, informed MailOnline that she and her partner were awakened today by "our bed vibrating intensely."

She said part of the balcony door's metal frame came off when it happened, and that it was 'very scary'.

Melissa Ford, staying in Rethymno with family, told MailOnline: 'We were woken soon after 6am to the shaking of the walls in our hotel room and the government alarm going off on our phones warning us of an earthquake .

'It was quite the shock. I imagine it lasted about 30 seconds if not longer. Fortunately, it didn't wake our children and although there were after shocks, we didn't feel them.'

Local media shared residential CCTV footage showed overhead power lines shaking as the camera wobbled.

Photos showed household items thrown from shelves in a Cretan supermarket.

The mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokerinos, informed ERT that the city did not face any specific issues, hence shutting down schools was deemed unnecessary.

"The earthquake happened at considerable depth, so there’s really no specific cause for concern among locals," stated Athanassios Ganas, who serves as the general director of Research at the Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, during an interview with ERT.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 68 kilometers (42 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

It occurred slightly more than a week following a 6.1-magnitude quake. struck close to the island of Kasos, which lies to the east of Crete, and its impact was noticed in the surrounding region. .

The area, which attracts many visitors, has experienced numerous earthquakes over the past few months. This led to temporary school closures in Santorini and nearby islands as a precautionary measure.

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