Athens: An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale shook southern Greece just after 12pm (4pm UAE time) on Thursday and was felt as far away as the Egyptian capital Cairo and southern Italy, there were no reported casualties.

Two hours later an aftershock, measuring 6.4, hit the same area.

"A couple of minutes ago at 2.08pm (4.08pm UAE time) a strong aftershock measured at 6.4 hit the same area," seismologist

Gerasimos Papadopoulos told reporters. "This confirms that the first tremor was also the main one. I think the nearby inhabited areas are now in no immediate danger."

The main quake was also felt throughout the capital and lasted at least 15 seconds, witnesses said.

"We were shaken for quite a long time, swaying back and forth," Tanya Spiropoulou from the northern Athens suburb of


Marousis said.