September 27, 2021 Earthquake: Crete, Greece

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Tectonic Summary

The September 27, 2021 M6.0 earthquake near the island of Crete, Greece, occurred as a result of shallow normal faulting. Focal mechanism solutions for the event indicate rupture occurred on a moderately dipping normal fault either striking towards the northeast or towards the southwest.

The location of the earthquake places it near the Hellenic subduction zone. The depth indicates this event occurred within the overriding Aegean Sea plate, above the subducting African plate.

Crete is an seismologically active and earthquakes of this size are expected. In the past 100 years there have been 33 earthquakes magnitude 6.0 and larger within 250 km of this event, and Crete has experienced four earthquakes magnitude 6.0 or larger either on shore or near shore (within 20km). This September 27th, 2021 earthquake is the largest event in the past 100 years striking near the city of Heraklion, Crete's most populated city and the administrative capital of the island.

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Of the 995 homes inspected, 772 have been declared uninhabitable. Of the 45 workplaces inspected, 36 are unstable, as are 46 of the 85 places of worship and public buildings surveyed.

They also conducted checks on 18 schools, of which six have been declared unfit for use.

Hundreds of people in affected region of Crete spent the last nights in tents and parks or slept in their cars in the wake of the earthquake, which struck the village of Arkalochori, killing one person, injuring at least 20.