Athens earthquake causes people to run into streets of Greek capital

The magnitude of the earthquake, reportedly northwest of the capital, remains unclear

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A strong earthquake has been felt in Athens, the Greek capital, causing people to run out into the streets.

The European Earthquake Monitoring Centre recorded the quake's epicentre at 22 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of the city. Its website quoted a witness as saying the quake was "strong but fortunately not very long".

The Athens Institute of Geodynamics gave the earthquake a preliminary magnitude of 5.1, however the US Geological Survey gave it a preliminary magnitude of 5.3.

State broadcaster ERT captured the earthquake live as it happened.

Power cuts have been reported in the Greek capital and fire brigade received calls about people being trapped in building elevators.

An earthquake measuring 5.9 in 1999 left 143 people dead in Greece.

In July 2017, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake killed two people in Kos, damaging the Greek island's historic buildings.

Greece lies on a faultline where the Arabic, African and Eurasian plates meet.