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M5.3 Depth: 18.4 km

M5.3 Earthquake near Gavdos Municipality, Region of Crete (Greece)

UTC time: 2026-06-20 09:37:27 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M5.3 earthquake was recorded near Gavdos Municipality, Region of Crete (Greece) on June 20, 2026 at 09:37 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 18 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude can damage poorly built structures.

The data is provided by INGV and cross-checked across seismological networks. Greece: 101 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M5.4.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 18.4 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 18.4 km
Shallow
18.4 km
18.4 km — close to the regional average (15.5 km)
Regional average: 15.5 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Estimated impact

4 Felt reports · max reported intensity 2.7

Tectonic context

Located on the Aegean Sea Plate.
Near the boundary Aegean Sea ↔ Africa · about 31 km away

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Rethymno67.8 kmNE32'468
Heraklion109.3 kmNE137'154
Athens350.8 kmN664'046

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Milos
    Distance: 209 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 751 m ·Last eruption: 140 ·Greece
  • Santorini
    Distance: 209 km ·Shield(s) ·Elevation: 367 m ·Last eruption: 1950 ·Greece
  • Kolumbo
    Distance: 225 km ·Complex ·Elevation: -18 m ·Last eruption: 1650 ·Greece
  • Methana
    Distance: 316 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 380 m ·Last eruption: -258 ·Greece
  • Nisyros
    Distance: 337 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 698 m ·Last eruption: 1888 ·Greece

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#2
Earlier events M≥4110
Earlier events M≥520
Compared since2025-01-03

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M5.42026-06-20 09:37:25 UTC5.2 kmChania Regional Unit M5.32026-06-20 09:37:25 UTC8.0 kmCrete, Greece M5.22026-06-20 09:37:25 UTC9.7 kmChania Regional Unit M5.22026-06-20 09:37:25 UTC9.4 kmChania Regional Unit M5.22026-06-20 09:37:25 UTC10.6 kmChania Regional Unit

Historic earthquake map · Greece

Open history map
Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · Greece

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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