A wide view shows the Acropolis hill in Athens on Friday, July 25, 2025, with the ancient Parthenon temple standing at the top. AP Photo
A powerful earthquake struck off the island of Euboea early Tuesday. The 5.2-magnitude tremor rattled many residents in Athens, about 45 kilometres away. The quake hit just after midnight at 00:30 local time (21:30 GMT). Experts placed the epicentre four kilometres off Nea Styra, a seaside town on Euboea, Greece’s second-largest island.
No Casualties Reported
Authorities reported no injuries or damage. Local officials described the quake as strong and startling. Marathon’s mayor, Stergios Tsirkas, said on live television, “It felt very intense.” Residents in the capital and surrounding towns shared accounts of sudden shaking that lasted several seconds.
Greece’s History of Quakes
This is not the first time Greece has faced tremors this year. In May, a 6.1-magnitude quake off Crete was felt as far away as Egypt. Earlier in January and February, Santorini experienced thousands of small quakes, forcing many locals to briefly leave the island. Most returned when activity eased.
Greece’s geography makes it one of Europe’s most quake-prone countries. The southeastern Mediterranean rests on multiple seismic faults, which often trigger tremors. While many pass without serious consequences, some have been deadly.
Deadly Past Quakes
The last fatal quake struck in October 2020. That 7.0-magnitude disaster hit the island of Samos and the Turkish city of Izmir. Two people died in Greece, while more than 100 perished in Turkey.
Seismologists continue to monitor activity closely. While Tuesday’s tremor caused no damage, the event serves as a reminder of Greece’s constant seismic risk.
