Athens: An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck off the island of Crete in Greece and was felt as far away as Egypt in the early morning hours on Wednesday, but no serious property damage was reported.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the quake was at a depth of 35 km (22 miles) near the island of Karpathos in the Mediterranean Sea. The Athens Geodynamic Institute reported the event, which prompted Greek authorities to issue a temporary tsunami warning as a precautionary measure.

Greece is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries. An unprecedented level of seismic activity shook the popular tourist island of Santorini for weeks earlier this year, causing concern among residents and visitors alike. Despite the frequent seismic occurrences, the region has well-established protocols to manage such events, minimizing risk to life and property.