A 6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes off the western coast of Cyprus

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Cyprus lies in a secondary earthquake-prone zone, but tremors of this magnitude are uncommon.

Nicosia, Cyprus:

An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck off the western coast of Cyprus early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The US Geological Survey said the strong and relatively shallow quake, which struck at 0107 GMT, had its epicenter 48 kilometers (30 miles) west and northwest of the town of Polis on the Mediterranean island.

The quake was felt throughout Cyprus and around the region with reports coming in from as far away as Turkey, Israel and Lebanon, according to the US Geological Survey.

In an initial assessment, she added, there was little possibility of casualties and damage from the quake.

The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.5 degrees at a depth of 51 km.

Cyprus lies in a secondary earthquake-prone zone, but tremors of this magnitude are uncommon.

The largest earthquake in recent years with a magnitude of 6.8 was in 1996, killing two people in Paphos along the west coast.

In 1953, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake killed 40 people and destroyed hundreds of homes, mostly in the Paphos region.

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