120 kms South-West of Athens was hit by a powerful earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale. It occurred 51 km below the ground meaning that casualities and damage was kept to a minimum.

Malcolm Brabant, the BBC correspondent, was quoted as saying that the quake shook his house vigorously for 20 seconds and “sent him sprinting for the front door”.

People who live in Kalamata reported shaking of 40 seconds.

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