Strong earthquake of magnitude 5.7 shakes Cyprus: Aftershocks felt across island

Nicosia – November 12, 2025: A powerful earthquake shook Cyprus late Wednesday morning, prompting widespread evacuations and temporary disruptions across the island. 

The tremor struck at approximately 11:30am, registering between 5.3 and 5.7 on the Richter scale, according to various seismological readings.

The Cyprus Geological Survey Department’s director, Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou, said the earthquake’s epicentre was near the village of Ayia Marina Kelokedaron in the Paphos district, at a focal depth of 15 kilometres.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), however, reported a magnitude of 5.7, locating the epicentre 50 kilometres west of Limassol and 18 kilometres north of Paphos, with a depth of 21.2 kilometres.

Aftershocks and Monitoring

Hadjigeorgiou confirmed that several aftershocks followed within minutes, some exceeding magnitude 3. “We are monitoring the situation closely,” he said, noting that another 48 hours of observation would determine whether further tremors are expected.

The EMSC recorded six aftershocks ranging from 2.3 to 4.7 on the Richter scale.

Public Response and Safety Precautions

The initial quake caused temporary disruptions to telecommunications networks and triggered evacuations from offices, schools, and residential buildings. Civil Defence spokesman Panayiotis Liasides said staff and volunteers remained on standby but no major incidents had been reported.
He urged the public to remain calm and follow basic safety advice: stay indoors during tremors, avoid elevators, use stairways when exiting buildings, and gather in open spaces away from trees, power lines, and tall structures.

In Larnaca, residents of tall buildings reported significant shaking, prompting temporary evacuations, though no injuries or damage were reported. Similar reports came from Paralimni and the free Famagusta area, where the tremor was strongly felt but caused no harm.

Eyewitness Accounts

“I was sitting at my desk when everything started shaking,” said a Limassol resident. “Plates rattled in the cupboards, and the light fixture kept swaying for several minutes.”

At SAT-7’s headquarters in Strovolos, Nicosia, staff evacuated within minutes. “It felt pretty strong – the whole building moved for several seconds,” one employee told the Cyprus Mail. The Christian media network confirmed that no structural damage was found, and operations will resume once safety checks are complete.

In the Paphos district, authorities reported rockfalls along the Paphos–Tsada road, but no serious accidents. District governor Charalambos Pittokopitis said teams were monitoring the area for further incidents.

Cyprus’s Seismic Context

Experts reminded the public that Cyprus lies within an active seismic zone — part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt, where around 15% of the world’s earthquakes occur. The island’s seismic activity is primarily linked to the Cyprus Arc, a tectonic boundary between the African and Eurasian plates.
The western section of the arc, near Akamas, shows the highest activity, while the central and eastern sections also experience frequent shallow earthquakes.

Historical data from the Geological Survey Department indicate that Cyprus experiences a major earthquake (over magnitude 6) roughly every 17 years, and smaller ones more frequently. The island records about 2,000 earthquakes annually, though only a fraction are felt by residents.

The most destructive in modern history occurred on September 10, 1953, when a magnitude 6 earthquake in the Paphos district killed 40 people, injured 100, and left 4,000 homeless. Other significant quakes followed in 1995, 1996, and 1999.

Building Safety and Preparedness

Authorities emphasised the importance of earthquake-resistant construction and regular building inspections, especially for older structures built before Cyprus adopted anti-seismic regulations in 1994 and Eurocode standards in 2012.

Public-use buildings such as schools, churches, hotels, and stadiums are considered a priority for safety checks. Experts have also called for subsidised inspections for vulnerable households.

Active Faults Across the Island

Cyprus continues to have active faults, including the Gerasa fault near Limassol, responsible for the 1999 magnitude 5.6 earthquake, and others near Nicosia (Ovgos fault) and Paphos. While many are not large enough to produce destructive quakes, continuous monitoring remains essential.

A Reminder of Vigilance

Wednesday’s tremor serves as a powerful reminder of Cyprus’s vulnerability to seismic events.
“While no serious damage was recorded this time,” Hadjigeorgiou said, “the island’s geological reality means preparedness and adherence to safety measures remain crucial.”

Recent historical earthquakes

The most recent historically significant earthquakes include:

• 23 February 1906: Strong 5.3 magnitude earthquake felt across the island, causing significant destruction in Limassol-Kolossi
• 10 September 1953: Magnitude 6 destructive double earthquake in Paphos district killing 40 people, injuring 100 and leaving 4,000 homeless, affecting 158 villages and towns
• 23 February 1995: Destructive magnitude 6.1 earthquake in Paphos district with two deaths, with several houses collapsing in Pano Arodes and Miliou villages
• 9 October 1996: Magnitude 6.5 earthquake with two deaths from secondary causes and 20 slightly injured
• 11 August 1999: Magnitude 5.6 earthquake with epicentre at Gerasa village
• 15 April 2015: Magnitude 5.6 earthquake with epicentre in the sea west of Kissonerga in Paphos