Recent earthquakes near Athens
Athens sits in the seismically active Aegean region but on comparatively stable ground, with a lower hazard than many Greek islands. Nearby faults can still produce damaging earthquakes, as the 1999 Athens earthquake (M6.0) demonstrated when a previously little-known fault ruptured just northwest of the city. Larger Aegean earthquakes are also felt in the capital. In the past 24 hours, Athens has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.9 | Oct 25, 05:15 UTC | 10 km | 17 km SE of Ambelókipoi, Greece |
Notable recent activity
An M4.9 earthquake struck 17 km SE of Ambelókipoi, Greece at 05:15 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
Does Athens get earthquakes?
Athens feels earthquakes regularly, mostly small ones from faults in the surrounding region and shaking transmitted from larger Aegean events. Damaging local earthquakes are less frequent than on some Greek islands but do occur.
What happened in the 1999 Athens earthquake?
On September 7, 1999, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck on a previously unmapped fault about 20 km northwest of Athens. It killed 143 people and was the deadliest natural disaster in modern Greek history, prompting stricter building enforcement.
Is Athens on a fault line?
Athens is not on a single major fault but sits amid several regional faults, including the one that produced the 1999 earthquake. Its hazard is moderate for Greece, though the wider Aegean is extremely active.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.