M5.3 Earthquake 81 km SSE of Palekastro, Greece — November 2, 2026
2026-11-02 16:49:17 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 6:49 PM UTC+2 local
On November 2, 2026 at 16:49 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 81 km SSE of Palekastro, Greece, at a depth of 48.5 km and coordinates 34.4807°, 26.4694°. This earthquake was detected by 80 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Greece, a region characterized by the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African Plate subducts northward beneath the Aegean at roughly 35 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Hellenic Trench. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
26.4694°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Palekastro, Greece?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 81 km SSE of Palekastro, Greece on November 2, 2026 at 16:49 UTC had a depth of 48.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 34.4807°, 26.4694°, which is 81 km SSE of Palekastro, Greece. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Greece had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Greece was the M8.5 Crete earthquake of June 29, 1303. Today's magnitude 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tuxy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, November 2, 2026). M5.3 Earthquake 81 km SSE of Palekastro, Greece — November 2, 2026. Retrieved November 2, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tuxy/