Cyprus was hit by two earthquakes on Wednesday measuring around 5 on the Richter scale.
In the morning, an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale occured at a depth of 15 kilometers. Its epicenter was in Agia Marina Kelokedaron in the Paphos district.
The second earthquake hit in the afternoon. Director of the Geological Survey Department, Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou, told CNA that the new earthquake was also at the range of 5 on the Richter scale.
‘There is a sequence of aftershocks and earthquakes since the morning, which needs to be studied,’ he said.
The earthquakes, he added, are expected to continue, and the phenomenon is being monitored by the seismological centre of the Geological Survey Department.
The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center has recorded more than 12 aftershocks since this morning, ranging from 2.2 to 4.1 on the Richter scale.
Meanwhile, Civil Defence told CNA after the first earthquake that no damages or injuries were reported. Civil Defence Spokesperson Panayiotis Liasides, said that they have immediately contacted the Police, Fire Department and community councils and that no damages or injuries occurred. Staff, as well as volunteers, are on standby, he added, so that they can assist if needed.
It is very important, he stressed, for people to remain calm, and take self-protection measures. In the event of an earthquake, he continued, it is recommended that citizens remain in the building until the earthquake has ended, exit by the stairs very carefully, do not use the elevator and gather in an open area away from power lines, tall trees, and tall buildings.
Following the first earthquake, the telecommunications network was affected for a few minutes. The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, CYTA, said that due to the earthquake, “unpredictable, particularly increased traffic on the fixed and mobile telephony networks occurred, resulting in a few minutes of network congestion.”