The earthquake struck at 2:14pm local time, with the epicenter located 23km northwest of the city, according to the Institute of Geodynamics at the National Observatory of Athens.
The quake, followed by several aftershocks, was felt in different parts of the city. Witnesses described them as “powerful.”
According to the AFP report, the strong earthquake jolted Athens Friday, knocking out phone and cellphone connections, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The epicentre of the 5.1-magnitude quake was 23 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of the city, the Greek geodynamic institute said.
Footage from the scene shows furniture shaking and falling inside apartments during the tremors.
Έδωσε πόνο! #Seismos#σεισμος#earthquakespic.twitter.com/nGKZfYOV2i— Louis Kachiouteas (@lokahiou) 19 июля 2019 г.
Many public buildings and large shopping malls were evacuated.
Startled people flooded onto the streets, fearing further aftershocks. They gathered outside the buildings, and some also left their cars and buses.
#Σεισμός στην #Αθήνα: Πετάχτηκε ο κόσμος έξω από τα κτίριαhttps://t.co/XSulwuGGUfpic.twitter.com/DuSde7ke6N— Popaganda (@PopagandaGR) 19 июля 2019 г.
Some debris can be seen lying on top of parked vehicles and the pavement.
Πάντως το σύστημα του @ikea_gr λειτούργησε άψογα #σεισμοςpic.twitter.com/TJuZiu64Cm— OXI-MOU-SOU-XOU (@TheWriteHand77) 19 июля 2019 г.
There were also reports of problems with electricity and mobile phone connection.
https://t.co/Q8b1yBRJQ6
Ισχυρός σεισμός τώρα στην Αθήνα-Ο κόσμος έχει βγει στις πλατείες#σεισμοςpic.twitter.com/kUfoTDuYGM— Ο ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΜΑΤΙΑΣ (@matmat2001) 19 июля 2019 г.
The nation’s main emergency agency, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, has been called to convene for an urgent meeting to assess the damage.
RT
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