A strong seismic tremor measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale occurred at 2:17 AM on Tuesday off the coast of Rhodes.

According to the Revised Solution from the Geodynamic Institute, the epicenter of the quake was located 21 kilometers north of Rhodes, with a focal depth of 64.9 kilometers. It should be noted that, contrary to initial reports, no 112 emergency alert was activated following the quake.

Earlier, the Geodynamic Institute’s Automatic Solution estimated the quake at 5.7R, located 26 kilometers north-northeast of Rhodes, with a focal depth of 40 kilometers.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) estimated the magnitude at 6.0R, with an epicenter 19 kilometers north of Rhodes.

So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

Immediately after the earthquake, both the Fire Department of Rhodes and the civil protection teams of the Municipality of Rhodes and the South Aegean Region were placed on high alert.

Lekkas’s Assessment
Professor of Geology and President of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), Mr. Efthymios Lekkas, appeared reassuring in his statement to ERTNews regarding the strong 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck early in the morning in the sea area between Rhodes and Turkey.

“This is an earthquake whose main characteristic is its depth. At a depth of 60 kilometers, we can say that although it was felt over a wide area in the Dodecanese and in Turkey, it will not have significant surface impact, there will be no tsunami, and there will likely not be a rich sequence of aftershocks,” Mr. Lekkas emphasized.

He further noted that this was most likely the main quake due to its depth. “It was a seismic event that was very intense for the residents of Rhodes and nearby areas, but beyond that, we do not expect anything particularly concerning,” he added.