On Tuesday morning, people on Crete and a few nearby islands woke up to the ground shaking. Turns out, there was a pretty strong earthquake — 5.9 on the scale — that hit under the sea near two smaller islands called Kasos and Karpathos. It happened about 35 kilometers below the surface, which is fairly deep, and honestly, it rattled folks not just in Greece but even as far as Egypt, Israel, Syria, and Turkey. That’s how wide the impact felt.
But here’s the good news: no one got hurt, and nothing really broke. No buildings came down, no big scenes. People definitely felt it, but it wasn’t a disaster. Just a strong jolt that caught everyone’s attention.
Tsunami Scare — But Nothing Came
Right after the quake, officials weren’t taking any chances. They sent out a warning just in case a tsunami came along. Phones buzzed with alerts, and people living close to the coast were told to move to higher ground, just to be on the safe side.
Thankfully, nothing happened — no big waves, no flooding, nothing like that. It was more of a better-safe-than-sorry situation. And honestly, that quick response probably helped calm a lot of nerves. People followed the instructions, and once they got the all-clear, life went back to normal pretty fast.
Is It Still Okay to Travel to Crete?
A lot of folks are asking this now, especially if they’ve got summer trips booked. The short answer is: yes, it’s totally fine to go. Airports are running normally, ferries are on schedule, and there haven’t been any cancellations. The local government and travel agencies have all said it’s safe, and they’re keeping an eye on things just in case.
That said, if you’re planning a visit, here are a few smart things to do:
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Sign up with your embassy if you’re traveling from another country.
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Stay in the loop with local news or alerts.
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Listen to hotel staff or guides for any safety tips.
Greece is known for earthquakes — it sits right where two big tectonic plates meet. So stuff like this does happen now and then. But buildings there are made to handle it, and locals are used to it. As they say, “The earth moves, but life moves on too.”
Quick Facts Recap:
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Date: May 14, 2025
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Magnitude: 5.9
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Depth: 35 km below sea
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Location: Near Kasos & Karpathos islands
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Tsunami?: Warning was sent, but no wave came
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Damage: No major damage, no injuries
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Travel Status: All good — airports and ferries are running
