The ground suddenly shook on a vacation island called Crete in Greece! According to Mirror, about a British couple named Kirby and Adrian Weegram who were sleeping when their bed started shaking. This was a real earthquake measuring 6.0 on the scale scientists use to tell how strong earthquakes are. It happened at almost 2 o’clock in the morning!
What Happened During the Earthquake?
The earthquake started deep underwater, about 48 kilometers (that’s about 30 miles) southeast of a place called Kasos. The shaking was so powerful that people felt it in faraway countries like Israel, Syria, and Egypt! When big earthquakes happen near water, they can sometimes cause giant waves called tsunamis that rush onto land.
The Greek government quickly sent warning messages to everyone’s phones. These messages told people to move away from beaches and go to higher places where water can’t reach.
The Couple’s Scary Night
Kirby and Adrian had just arrived in Crete on Tuesday night for their honeymoon. A honeymoon is a special vacation people take after they get married. They are 29 and 36 years old and come from a town called Hartlepool in the United Kingdom.
Their vacation company TUI sent them a text message warning about the earthquake. Kirby said: “Warnings say to keep away from the coast and go up high, but our hotel is on the beach and we are on the ground floor!” She was worried because they have children at home.
| What Happened | When It Happened | Where It Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Big earthquake (6.0 strength) | 1:51 AM local time | Near Crete, Greece |
| Warning messages sent to phones | Right after the earthquake | All around coastal areas |
| People moved away from beaches | Early morning hours | Southern parts of Crete |
How Greece Warns People About Danger
Greece has a special system called GR-Alert to warn people about dangers like earthquakes and tsunamis. When something dangerous happens, the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection sends messages to all phones in the area.
- The messages make a loud alarm sound so people wake up even at night
- People without smartphones can sign up to get warnings on regular phones
- The warnings tell people exactly what to do to stay safe
- This system is part of a bigger warning system used in many European countries
Was There a Tsunami?
Even though officials warned about possible tsunamis, no big waves came after this earthquake. The Watchers News reported that no tsunami was seen following the earthquake. This was good news for everyone on the island, including Kirby and Adrian!
Other tourists at the hotel seemed calm about the situation. Kirby said: “Most of the English people in the hotel seem quite relaxed and unfazed.”
This story shows us how important warning systems are during natural disasters. Even though earthquakes can be scary, having good warnings helps keep people safe. The next time you hear about emergency alerts, remember they are there to protect us all!
