Two strong earthquakes shake northern Evia, damaging old buildings and roads; no injuries reported

The seismic sequence

A series of earthquakes began at 12:58 local time on Sunday, 7 June 2026, near the village of Prokopi in northern Evia. The first tremor registered a magnitude of 4.8, according to the Geodynamic Institute, with an epicentre six kilometres southwest of Prokopi and a focal depth of just 14 kilometres. Two minutes later, a 4.3-magnitude aftershock followed, and at 13:02 a stronger 5.2-magnitude quake struck with a focal depth of 13.1 kilometres. The shallow depth explains why the shaking was felt so strongly across the Attica basin, as well as on the islands of Skiathos and as far inland as Karditsa.

In the minutes after the main shocks, the Geodynamic Institute recorded at least eight additional aftershocks ranging from 2.7 to 3.3 in magnitude. Seismologists described the event as an ongoing seismic sequence and are monitoring it closely.

Damage on the ground

The mayor of Mantoudi-Limni-Agia Anna, Giorgos Tsapourniotis, reported extensive damage to the road network from landslides, particularly in the areas of Plakia and Dafnousa. Cracks appeared in houses, shops, and other buildings, with the most significant damage concentrated in Prokopi. The deputy regional governor of Evia, Giorgos Kelaiditis, confirmed damage to homes, commercial buildings, and the Church of Agios Georgios outside Prokopi, where a baptism was taking place when the shaking began. In at least one house, a wall collapsed.

Despite the structural damage, the Fire Service's operations centre had received no calls for people trapped as of early afternoon. Fire Service chief Lieutenant General Theodoros Vagias placed units in Attica and Evia, as well as the 1st and 7th EMAK disaster response teams, on heightened alert. Twenty vehicles with crews from Evia's fire services are patrolling the wider area, inspecting the road network in cooperation with the Hellenic Police.

Expert assessments

Seismologists offered a range of views on the risk of a larger event. Efthymios Lekkas, president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP), said the area typically produces quakes up to 5.1 or 5.2 in magnitude and that he does not foresee a larger event. Athanasios Ganas, research director at the Geodynamic Institute, noted that historically the Prokopi area does not produce earthquakes above 5.5 magnitude and said there is no particular reason for concern, though the phenomenon will be monitored for 48 hours as the aftershock sequence unfolds.

Based on the data for the area, we usually have such earthquakes in Dafnousa, Mantoudi and Prokopi, meaning earthquakes that reach 5.1 and 5.2 on the Richter scale. These are earthquakes without particularly large magnitudes but with seismicity that lasts several days.

Kostas Papazachos, professor of seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, struck a more cautious tone. He described northern Evia as a zone of intermediate seismicity with active faults and warned that a stronger earthquake could easily occur. He urged residents to avoid entering damaged buildings until they are inspected and said schools should not reopen on Monday unless the rate of the seismic sequence has declined and buildings are confirmed safe.

A stronger earthquake can very easily happen. Consequently, all the classic pre-seismic protection measures we take in such cases must be put into effect.

Response and next steps

Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafados and General Secretary for Natural Disaster Restoration and State Aid Petros Kampouris are in contact with local authorities to begin damage assessments. A coordination meeting was scheduled within the hour to decide whether schools in the affected area will open on Monday. The Fire Service has urged residents to exercise caution and follow the instructions of the authorities.