Huge 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes near Crete sparking tsunami warning

TSUNAMI warnings have been issues across parts of Crete following a huge earthquake.

Warnings have been issued for Irakleion and Sitia after seismologists registered a magnitude six quake in the area.

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The independent Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) confirmed the 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit 60 km north-east of Siteia.

It sparked a tsunami alert, with the group warning: “Move away from the coast and reach a higher place. Follow national authorities’ directives.”

The earthquake is said to have taken place at 1.25am local time and struck at a depth of 80 km (49.71 miles), EMSC said.

Earlier this month, a massive earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean sparking a tsunami warning amid fears of fresh disaster for the nearby island nations.

The 7.1 magnitude tremor rocked the sea around 130 miles south-east of Tonga.

Tsunami warnings were issued for American Samoa, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC).

Hazardous tsunami waves from the earthquake are possible within 300 km of the epicenter along the coasts of Niue and Tonga, it added.

USGS said the quake was at a depth of 10 km.

Tonga is located just 37 miles from the so-called “Ring of Fire” – a highly geologically active line of tectonic plates surrounding the Pacific.