Minor earthquake in Paphos (updated)

A MINOR earthquake of 4.0 in the Richter scale shook the Paphos area shortly before 8:30 pm on Monday night.

Local police confirm having received several calls from the public reporting a light tremor that lasted no more than three or four seconds, but no injuries or damage as of yet.

Such reports came both from within the town of Paphos and several of the district’s villages, including Polis Chrysochous, Pachyammos, Argaka and Pomos.

Residents in the area confirmed indoor objects shaking but no damage caused, and some appear to have found the rumbling sound preceding the tremor more unnerving than the actual shaking.

In a statement, the Geological Survey Department said that the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.0 on the Richter scale, which is consistent with locals’ descriptions of the incident.

At a depth of 20 kilometres, the tremor’s epicentre was the area around Kannaviou village, some 23 kilometres north-east of Paphos.

The Geological Survey Department is monitoring the development of the phenomenon, its statement concludes.

The quake appears to have caused greater concern among public than its magnitude may have warranted, due to disturbing images of devastation coming out of the Cephallonia island, repeatedly upset by moderate to strong earthquakes in the last few days.

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