THESSALONIKI, Greece — A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck northern Greece on Sunday evening, according to information from local authorities.

The seismic event took place offshore from the Chalkidiki peninsula, situated about 40 kilometers southeast of Thessaloniki, which is the second-largest city in Greece. Reports from the Athens Institute of Geodynamics indicate that the earthquake occurred at 7:03 PM local time (17:03 GMT) and was recorded at a depth of 15.9 kilometers. Just four minutes after the initial quake, a smaller tremor measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale was detected, along with several other minor shakes.

Costas Papazachos, a Professor specializing in Applied Geophysics and Seismology at the University of Thessaloniki, commented on the situation, stating, “There is a small fissure in the area, which has a moderate level of seismic activity. A major seismic incident would indeed come as a significant surprise.” It is worth noting that a tremor measured at 3.9 had already occurred in the same region the previous day.

Currently, there have been no reports of damage stemming from the earthquake, as confirmed by local police and fire service officials speaking with media outlets.

The tremors were felt over a vast area of northern Greece. Seismic activity of this nature is not uncommon in the country, which is located near the intersection of the African and European tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent earthquakes.