Newsroom
A moderate earthquake rattled parts of the eastern Mediterranean on Monday, with tremors felt across Cyprus after a 5.3-magnitude quake struck off Turkey’s southern coast.
According to Cyprus’ Geological Survey Department, the quake hit at 12:21 p.m. local time and was picked up clearly by the island’s seismological network. The epicenter was in the Gulf of Antalya, roughly 255 kilometers northwest of Polis Chrysochous, at a depth of about 85 kilometers.
That depth matters. Deep quakes like this tend to shake a wide area but rarely cause major damage, which helps explain why many people in Cyprus said they felt a gentle roll or quick jolt but nothing more serious.
Authorities said the quake was felt throughout southern Turkey and across the eastern Mediterranean basin, including here in Cyprus. No damage or injuries were reported.
The Geological Survey Department reminded the public that up-to-date information on seismic activity in and around Cyprus is available on its Seismological Center website, a page many locals tend to bookmark, given how often the island gets these reminders of how active the region really is.
For most people, Monday’s quake was just a brief wobble in the middle of the day. But as always, it’s a nudge that our neighborhood sits in a lively seismic zone, and the earth likes to stretch its legs now and then.
