The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported a strong, 6.1-magnitude earthquake in the Mediterranean Sea, occurring at 1:51 a.m. Eastern European Time (ETE), roughly 14 miles southeast of Fry, Greece. The event was recorded using the Magnitude Intensity Scale (MIS), where values range up to 9. USGS sources note that the earthquake would likely impact equip areas outside of the specified magnitude-sensitive region. The data is available as of Tuesday, May 13 at 8:05 p.m. Eastern Time, and includes an aftershock analysis up to Tuesday, May 13 at 9:57 p.m. Eastern Time.
The earthquake’s risk of global tsunami has been becomes heightened as Greece prepares for more comprehensive risk assessments. The USGS warns that the region affected includes slower-moving tectonic plates and active seafloor environments, raising the bar for pre-emptive actions. The governmental entity has already analyzed the earthquake’s aftershocks, which included a Championship with additional magnitude information, consistent with the largest activated conditions being above the critical scale. This further underscores the earthquake’s potential to affect critical infrastructure, including coastal areas.
Below detail the earthquakes location, shaking intensity, and associated maps. The earthquake triggered by the initial report occurred at a specific location, and the shaking was reported on a scale based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) range, measuring up to a midpoint of 5.6 on the MIS. The epicenter and key related areas at the site are defined in the maps provided under the “Daylight” section, which focus on urban areas with a shaking intensity above 6.0. The “Natural Earth” and “Protomaps” sections offer a more comprehensive view of the earthquake’s terrain, terrain types, and shaking intensity across the affected region.
It is crucial to note that shaking data may be revised or incomplete, as USGS scientists are still working to update the shaking severity map, particularly for seismically active regions. This uncertainty highlights the rare yet potentially devastating nature of tsunamis tied to such earthquakes. The maps and maps web interface for estimating shaking intensity can be explored for a more detailed analysis.
