Greece earthquake: Where is Zakynthos? Is it safe to travel to Zante?

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Greek island of Zakynthos, damaging buildings and resulting in power outages.
REUTERS
Georgia Chambers26 October 2018

The quake hit just before 2am on Thursday and was felt across Western Greece.

Greek authorities say three people have been taken to hospital, two of whom are being treated for minor injuries.

Damage to the local pier and the 13th-century monastery have also been reported.

Civil protection agency press spokeperson Spyros Georgiou said: "We're checking out the villages on the island, where there are several other buildings.

"The lack of electricity is a problem, but technicians are trying to restore the power."

Zante - popularised as a party destination for young people - attracted around 200,000 visitors last year.

Terrified tourists tweeted about the quake as they took cover in their hotels.

One holidaymaker wrote: "@ThomasCookUK please do something!! We are stuck in Zante after an earthquake and everyone is outside the hotel in blankets."

Here's everything you need to know about the earthquake, plus the latest travel advice for Zante:

Where is the earthquake?

The United States Geological Survey locates the epicentre of the earthquake in the Ionian Sea, 31 km south of Zakynthos.
EPA

The epicentre of the earthquake was found in the Ionian Sea, 50 km (31 miles) south of the island of Zakynthos, Greece's Geodynamic Institute reported.

The quake was also felt in the capital Athens and as far afield as Libya, Italy, Malta and Albania.

Will there be another earthquake?

Several aftershocks have been felt across the island, the most powerful measuring a magnitude of 6.8.

When the earthquake struck, Greek authorities initially released a tsunami warning, which they then withdrew.

It's not yet known whether another earthquake is likely, but Greece is particularly earthquake-prone, credited with having the most seismic activity in Europe.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake which struck Zakynthos in 1953 destroyed much of the island.

Are flights still going to and from Zante?

No damage to Zakynthos's International Airport has been reported and flights are said to be running as normal.

Thomas Cook told concerned tourists it wouldn't be adding any additional flights from Zante.

Is it safe to travel to Zante?

A worker stands over the cracked and warped sidewalk after an earthquake at the main harbour of Zakynthos island, western Greece.
AP

Despite the initial panic, Zakynthos Mayor Pavlos Kolokotas assured residents that "calm is being restored."

He added: "We are not facing any particular problems."

The Foreign Office is yet to release any official travel advice following the earthquake, but it has warned tourists of Greece's "extreme" weather conditions over their extended summer period.

In extreme weather conditions, the Foreign Office advises to "monitor local and international weather updates and follow the advice of local authorities."

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