A powerful earthquake rattled the broader area of Greece’s northern regions of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki on Sunday evening.
The quake was felt across Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki and the popular northern Greek tourist resort of Halkidiki.
According to the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale.
The quake occurred at 19:03 local time (17:03 GMT), with its epicenter being located twelve kilometers (7.5 miles) southeast of the town of Nea Moudania.
The earthquake had a depth of five kilometers (three miles), which is relatively shallow, making the tremors much stronger in the broader region.
Strong Aftershock
Only a few minutes after the initial tremor, a strong aftershock with a magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale was recorded.
The 4.3-strong quake took place at 19:07 and its epicenter was located ten kilometers (six miles) south of the Nea Moudania region.
Five minutes later, a third earthquake was reported, with a magnitude of 2.8 on the Richter scale.
Not the first earthquake in Greece this year
This was not the first quake that rattled Greece this year.
The most recent and significant earthquake that was reported in the country was on the island of Evia in late August.
According to the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, the earthquake had a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale.
It struck at 10:53 PM local time, with its epicenter located in northern Evia, specifically 4 kilometers southeast of Vasiliki Istiaia. The earthquake’s focal depth was 15.4 kilometers.
Northern Evia had experienced a total of seven earthquakes in less than two days. Except for the 4.5 magnitude quake, all the other tremors were below two on the Richter scale.
Where is Nea Moudania
Nea Moudania is a tourist town located in the Halkidiki region of Greece, about sixty kilometers (31 miles) south of Thessaloniki, the capital of Macedonia.
Founded in 1922 by Greek refugees from Asia Minor, following the Smyrna Catastrophe, it was named after their former hometown, Moudania (Mudanya), in modern-day Turkey.
Today, Nea Moudania is the financial and commercial center of coastal Halkidiki, with a population of approximately 10,000 permanent residents. The population of the town is much higher during the summer months.
The town has a bustling and beautiful harbor. It is one of Greece’s busiest fishing ports, where colorful boats come and go throughout the day.
Visitors can enjoy fresh seafood in the many tavernas along the waterfront while taking in views of the Thermaikos Gulf and the legendary Mount Olympus, the mythological home of the gods, according to ancient Greeks.