A strong earthquake occurred on the Holy Mount Athos

In the evening, a significant seismic event with a magnitude of 4.9 to 5.0 was recorded on the Athos peninsula, which was felt not only in the monastic republic, but also in several regions of Northern Greece.

According to Greek publication Romfea.gr, the tremors occurred shortly after 21:00 local time. According to automatic solution of Geodynamic Institute, epicenter of the earthquake was located 8 kilometers to the North-West from Karea – the administrative center of the Holy Mount Athos. The source was at a shallow depth of only 5 kilometers, which led to a strong perceptibility of vibrations on the surface.

According to available information, the earthquake was clearly felt by residents of the city of Thessaloniki. The main seismic shock was followed by at least three more aftershocks, the most powerful of which had a magnitude of 3.3. At the moment information about the victims or serious damage to the infrastructure of the monasteries was not received.

Recall, the civilian governor of the Holy Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis, has extended an official invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit the monastic republic. This unprecedented move, which was reported by the Greek media, is seen as an event of historic significance within the framework of religious and geostrategic diplomacy, capable of emphasizing the global role of Mount Athos.