Earthquake hits north of Athens

An earthquake hit near the Greek capital of Athens Friday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) and the United States Geological Survey.

“M5.1 #earthquake (#σεισμός) strikes 23 km NW of #Athens (#Greece) 12 min ago. Updated map of its effects,” the EMSC shared on Twitter.   

M5.1 #earthquake (#σεισμός) strikes 23 km NW of #Athens (#Greece) 12 min ago. Updated map of its effects: pic.twitter.com/0QNwOcfgdx

— EMSC (@LastQuake) July 19, 2019

{mosads}The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake was a 5.3 on the Richter scale, while the EMSC originally reported a 5.1 earthquake. 

People were reportedly spilling out onto the street in Athens, which was approximately 14 miles away from the epicenter, around 2 p.m. local time. The epicenter was reported to be near the mountainous area of Parnitha, where another earthquake hit in 1999, NBC News reported.

Some local outlets reported that the earthquake lasted 15 seconds and caused power and communications outages, though no serious damage or injuries have been reported.

The EMSC also shared that there were at least two aftershocks.

Felt #earthquake (#σεισμός) M2.5 strikes 25 km NW of #Athens (#Greece) 16 min ago. Please report to: https://t.co/0AoivJ1E9L pic.twitter.com/O3cCE0kZEw

— EMSC (@LastQuake) July 19, 2019