Crete earthquake: Large tremor hits Mediterranean island causing fears of damage

An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the land of Crete successful Greece connected Wednesday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said.

The quake was astatine a extent of 83 km (51.57 miles), GFZ said.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a somewhat little quake, astatine 6.1 magnitude. 

Crete is location to much than 624,000 people, with astir a 3rd of the island's colonisation surviving successful the superior metropolis of Heraklion. 

The land is besides 1 of the astir fashionable vacation destinations successful the full of Greece, with 15% of visitors arriving successful Heraklion.  

Generally, immoderate earthquake supra a 6.0 tin origin harm if it hits a populated area. 

According to Michigan Tech University, an estimated 100 earthquakes with a magnitude betwixt 6.1 and 6.9 are recorded each year. 

The existent harm to the land is not presently known, though the USGS estimates that determination is small hazard of landslides oregon liquefaction, the nonaccomplishment of the ground's structural integrity, occurring. 

More to follow.