Greece hit by strong earthquake

ATHENS, Greece

(July 25, 2001 10:25 p.m. EDT ) - Residents of Athens and some other cities in Greece fled into open areas when a powerful earthquake shook wide areas of the country Thursday. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake, which occurred about 3:15 a.m., had a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 with an epicenter near the Aegean Sea island of Skyros, about 85 miles northwest of Athens, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

The quake hit hours after a 4.4 magnitude temblor occurred just north of the island, which has about 3,000 permanent residents and about the same number of summer tourists.

Giorgos Stathis, deputy mayor of Skyros, said there was no immediate sign of casualties.

"But for sure some houses will be damaged. There are patrols of police and other services already out on the streets," he said.

The quake was felt over a wide stretch of the country - from the central Aegean to the mountains of southern Greece, media reports said. A series of aftershocks also rattled the region.

The last major quake to hit Greece was a 5.9 magnitude temblor on Sept. 7, 1999 that claimed 143 lives.

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