On Friday morning, tremors were experienced throughout Malta following reports of a 5.9 magnitude earthquake striking Greece, characterized as ‘moderately strong’.

Numerous accounts surfaced on social media, detailing rooms shaking and residents being awakened from sleep across the island on Good Friday.

In addition to the earthquakes in the eastern Mediterranean near Greece, there was also a 3.8 magnitude earthquake near the small Italian island of Pantelleria, which lies further north and west of Malta. Though smaller in magnitude compared to the earthquake in Greece, it likely contributed to the impact felt in Malta.

The automated detection system of the Malta Seismic Monitoring Group registered tremors in Malta shortly after 8 am (7 am UTC), peaking in intensity for a few seconds before gradually diminishing into less noticeable aftershocks over a span of approximately ten minutes.

As per the Associated Press, the earthquake occurred just off the southern coast of Greece, near the Peloponnese region. A representative from the Malta Seismic Monitoring Group mentioned that this area is often prone to earthquakes associated with the Hellenic subduction zone.

Although there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the quake was felt extensively, reaching as far as Athens and even extending to Crete.

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