Strong M6.0 Earthquake hit in the Mediterranean Sea 168km from Irákleion (Greece) on Wednesday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 13th, 2025. Last updated June 14th, 2025.

In the night of Wednesday May 14th, 2025, a strong M6.0 earthquake hit in the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Basin 168 kilometer from Irákleion, Greece. Around 1.1 million people have been exposed to shaking. Türkiye is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Basin, 25 kilometers (16 mi) off the coast of Greece, 168 kilometer east of Irákleion in Crete. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 74 km.

Date and Time:	May 14, 2025 01:51 (Athens Time) - May 13, 2025 22:51 Universal Time.
Location:	168 km east of Irákleion, Crete, Greece. Coordinates 35°13'53"N 26°59'32"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.0 Detected by 80 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.035 .
Depth:	74 km (46 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 100% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 1.1 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 1.1 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

Strong shaking and probably light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 3,540 people. At VI, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 710 thousand) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Greece , around 570 thousand people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). In Türkiye , around 480 thousand people.

Nearby towns and cities

Greece and Türkiye are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Irákleion in Crete, Greece. Irákleion is located 168 kilometer (104 mi) east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Irákleion is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: İzmir is located 354 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low). Antalya is located 381 km to the east-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low). Karabağlar is located 350 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VI. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 918 people in 12 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 918 people have reported shaking in 161 places in 12 countries (Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malta, Palestine).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Cairo, Kairo, Egypt: 182 people.
• Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt: 73 people.
• Gizeh, Giseh, Egypt: 58 people.
• El Khanka, al-Qalyūbiyah, Egypt: 45 people.
• Kárpathos, Dodekánisos, Greece: 29 people.
• Iráklion, Iráklion, Greece: 25 people.
• Shubra-El-Khema, al-Qalyūbiyah, Egypt: 23 people.
• Madīnat Sittah Uktūbar, Giseh, Egypt: 22 people.
• El Qoseyia, Assiut, Egypt: 20 people.
• El Asher men Ramadan, aš-Šarqīyah, Egypt: 19 people.

6 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 6 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 3 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-3.5 was detected 24 km (15 mi) north-east of this earthquake.

Before this earthquake struck, 3 smaller foreshocks occurred. Roughly 15 hrs before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.6 was detected nearby this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

This is the strongest earthquake in 4 years

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since October 12th, 2021, when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 71 km (44 mi) further west. An even stronger magnitude 7 earthquake struck on October 30th, 2020.

In total, 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 2 years.

Low tsunami risk

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 14/06/25 02:48 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000pz2p
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250513_0000292
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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