Two aftershocks follow 4.9-magnitude earthquake off Cyprus coast

Two aftershocks have been recorded following a 4.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cyprus that occurred last night, according to Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou, Director of the Geological Survey Department. Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Hadjigeorgiou described the quake as part of the island's normal seismic activity.

The earthquake, which was strongly felt in the provinces of Paphos, Limassol, and other parts of Cyprus, but with no reported damages, was centered 18 kilometers southwest of Paphos at a depth of 13 kilometers. "This is an area that has historically produced earthquakes," Hadjigeorgiou said, noting that over the past 30 years, eight quakes ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 in magnitude have been recorded in the region.

Hadjigeorgiou explained that the affected area links the Cypriot arc with a transform fault located south of Paphos, extending to the northern coast west of Polis Chrysochous. “This earthquake is part of the regular seismic activity of Cyprus,” he reiterated.

Hadjigeorgiou urged residents to be familiar with earthquake safety measures and to rely on information from the Civil Defence authorities. "In the event of a larger earthquake, the priority is to protect ourselves," he said. "If we survive, we can help others."

He emphasized that during an earthquake, immediate self-preservation is crucial. “There is not enough time to do anything else, and our response must be immediate,” Hadjigeorgiou concluded.

[With information from CNA]