Seismologist says activity off Crete is normal

The research director of the Institute of Geodynamics at the National Observatory of Athens, Vassilis Karastathis, on Tuesday sought to allay fears over increased earthquake activity close to Crete, where a 5.9 Richter quake hit south of the island last Saturday, followed by a 5.6 magnitude aftershock the following day.

According to Karastathis, the quake’s epicenter, about 50 kilometers off the island’s south coast, was located in a highly seismic area where tectonic plates converge, while aftershock activity was within the norm.