Brits in parts of Greece are advised to switch on a specific setting on their phones as the country was hit by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake early this morning. This smartphone alert system keeps people updated on any extreme weather events.
It comes as the tremor was recorded 79 kilometres (49 miles) off the coast of Heraklion in Crete at 6.19am local time today. Residents in eastern Crete reported being woken by the quake while tremors were felt on other Greek islands as well as in Turkey and Egypt.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has now issued a tsunami warning covering Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and Portugal.
And the Greek government has urged everyone to "move away from the coast and reach a higher place" for their own safety.
On its website, the Foreign Office advises tourists in Greece to register for alerts from the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service. These alerts are provided in English and sent to people’s phones.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says: “Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods. To be alerted to events near where you are located in Greece, register for alerts from the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service) (in English).”
This is available on iPhones, Android phones and Samsungs:
The FCDO also warned travellers that tsunamis can cause “widespread destruction”. It said: “Tsunamis are very dangerous and will often cause widespread destruction, including to homes and infrastructure.
“You may be at higher risk of a tsunami if you live in a low-lying coastal area or an island. You may be in danger during the event itself, such as being at risk of drowning or being crushed by debris, or after the event, where you are at increased risk of water-borne diseases like malaria or typhoid fever.”
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said in a statement: "Depending on the distance of the earthquake from the coastline, the tsunami could be local (<100 km), regional (<1,000 km) or distant (>1,000 km).” So far, no injuries have been reported following the earthquake, and there have been no immediate reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure.
This morning's event comes just over a week after a 6.3-magnitude quake struck both Crete and Rhodes last week. Crete is a high-risk area for seismological activity as it sits along a complex fault boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Holidaymakers in Greece were further warned that natural hazard events could make travelling home more difficult. The FCDO added: “Once the event has happened, you should be aware of possible risks relating to damaged buildings or other infrastructure. Be aware that events in places away from where you are can still cause disruption, such as through loss of power, communications or transport services.
“It may take time for airports to re-open and there may be serious shortages of accommodation, food, water and health facilities. It may be harder for you to receive help from humanitarian workers if it is difficult to access the area due to transport infrastructure damage or flooding.”
For more information, visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/safety-and-security.
