Minor tremor hits Cyprus, no injuries or damage reported

A minor tremor, registering 4,4 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 1228 local time (0928 GMT) on Thursday and was felt primarily in the capital Nicosia, but also in the villages around the city as well as in Limassol.
The epicenter of the earthquake was the area of Klirou, some 20 kilometres south west of Nicosia and its depth was around 50 kilometres, according to the Seismological Survey Department.
“There are no reports of damage but we shall monitor the situation,” Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Fotis Fotiou said today.
He said there was no cause for concern.
The Director of the Seismological Survey Department Polis Michaelides said no after-shocks were registered and explained that this phenomenon was a one off incident.
“We seem to have an active fault which causes seismic movement in the area of Klirou, even though this location is not among the places where tremors happen often,” he explained.
He said that further tests can be carried out in the area after 24 hours elapse, from the time the earthquake struck, before reaching any concrete conclusions about any possible dangers.
According to Civil Defence Commander Christos Kyriakides the public need not worry about today’s minor tremor, which was felt in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, on the south east.
He said people are safer in open spaces when an earthquake occurs.