
have been left worried after the of Crete was hit by a , measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, at 6.19am time on Thursday, 22 May.
The earthquake took place 56 kilometers north-northeast of Heraklion, Crete, at a depth of 69 kilometers, according to the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens. The tremor was felt intensely across the island, particularly in Chania and Rethymno, as well as on other islands nearby and even mainland Greece.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has issued a tsunami alert, urging people in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, and Portugal to follow guidance from their local emergency services. No injuries or damage were initially reported after the earthquake, but the Greek fire brigade announced that all units across Crete have been placed on heightened alert.
Several people, including British tourists on Crete and nearby islands, have taken to social media to share their experiences, with many saying they 'just want to go home'.
One of these people were Nicole Steele, who was enjoying their holiday with aher husband and their two kids when they woke up from the earthquake.
"We've just been woken up again at the back of six o'clock this morning," Nicole told viewers on . "That was absolutely terrifying. The last earthquake was like a bit of a rocking. This earthquake was shaking, maybe for about ten seconds. Woke everybody up."
She went on to say that she'd rush out of bed to wake her two sons to get them ready to leave their hotel. They then walked to their friend's apartment, as he was living higher up on the island.
Nicole said: "So we're up here just now and kinda watching, waiting, and seeing what we're doing... Gonna just get in my car and go to high ground, but we need to wait for my husband. He's still back at the room, he's coming."
"That was very scary. Like, I was scared last time, but this time I'm terrified", she said, referring to the other earthquake that happened last week near Kasos, another island in southern Greece.
"I'm at the point that there's been two earthquakes in the past week, and I just want to get home safely. I just want to leave. And it has put me off coming back. I would have anxiety anyway, so this is just making it 100 times worse."
Also on Crete was Charlotte Lilley, who took to TikTok to share her experience of waking up due to the earthquake.
"I've just been woken up by a f***ing earthquake. I am absolutely petrified," she said at the start of her video. "I was literally asleep. Woke up to the view shaking. I thought the TV was going to fall off."
She then said that her partner Jack and their son Rico were still asleep inside their room.
"Oh my god, I'm so f***ing scared," she said as she looked around, noting that several other people were up and awake.
She then added: "And now I'm s***ing myself becuse they say that after an earthquake, it's like a tsunami warning. So I'm just looking at the sea now, thinking 'does that look any different?'

Several people took to the comment sections of the video, with people questioning whether or not they still wanted to go on their booked holidays to Greece.
"Have there been more earthquakes in the past week? We usually leave for Hersonissos on monday but I'm afraid," one person asked.
Another wrote: "We're going to Rhodes in two weeks and I'm so scared." A third remarked: "It woke us up but our hotel is at the beach and I'm scared of a tsunami."
However, others weren't as fearful. A fourth added: "This is where we are and this is where it happened. All the locals not phased by it and said not to worry as Crete is one of the highest prone places to have them."
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