Two earthquakes shook Cyprus within hours — tremors felt across the Eastern Mediterranean

Cyprus was struck by two moderate earthquakes on Wednesday, both measuring 5.3 in magnitude, sending tremors across the island and as far away as Lebanon. Despite the magnitude of the quakes, no injuries or significant damage have been reported so far.

The first quake occurred around 11:32 a.m. local time (9:32 a.m. GMT), with its epicenter located roughly 20km northeast of Paphos at a depth of about 15km, according to the Cyprus Geological Survey Department. The tremor prompted brief evacuations of public buildings in the Paphos district, state television reported.

A few hours later, around 4:20 p.m., a second earthquake of similar magnitude shook the same region. It is noted that data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) indicated that this quake was centered approximately 10km southeast of Paphos, at a depth of around 14km.

Furthermore, residents across Cyprus, especially in Paphos, Limassol, and Nicosia, described the shaking as strong and long-lasting. Reports of the tremors also came from parts of Lebanon and along the eastern Mediterranean coastline.

Although Cyprus lies in a seismically active zone, destructive earthquakes are relatively rare. The region has experienced notable quakes in the past, including one in the 1950s that caused fatalities.