Earthquake Strikes Northwestern Greece, Disrupting Power and Transportation
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 struck near the city of Arta in northwestern Greece early Sunday morning, March 8, 2026. The quake, registered by the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at the BAS, occurred at 05:32 Bulgarian time. The epicenter was approximately 300 km from Petrich, 340 km from Blagoevgrad, and 420 km from Sofia.
Details of the Earthquake
Greek seismologists pinpointed the earthquake’s location in the Epirus region, with the epicenter 12 kilometers from the mountain village of Leptokaria. A second earthquake, measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale, followed four minutes later, with an epicenter 20 kilometers from Ioannina.
The initial quake had a depth of about 5 km and was located 21 km west-southwest of Ioannina and 155 km west of Larissa. The tremors were felt strongly in Epirus, Thessaly, and the Ionian Islands.
Impact and Response
While initial reports indicate no widespread damage, the earthquake caused panic among residents, with many taking to the streets. Deputy Mayor of Ioannina, Evtimios Chrysostomu, reported localized power supply disturbances to ERT TV, stating, “People were scared, but this always happens when we have an earthquake above 5 on the Richter scale. There are signals of local power supply disturbances.”
The administration of the Epirus region reported that stones had fallen onto the Egnatia highway in the lane leading to the coastal town of Igoumenitsa, disrupting traffic.
About Arta, Greece
Arta is a city in northwestern Greece and the capital of the regional unit of Arta, within the region of Epirus. Historically known as Ambracia in antiquity, it served as the capital of ancient Epirus. The city is recognized for its medieval bridge over the Arachthos River, ancient sites dating back to Pyrrhus of Epirus, and a well-preserved 13th-century castle. Arta also boasts numerous Byzantine churches, including the Panagia Paregoretissa, constructed around 1290. Learn more about Arta.
Arta’s current population (2021) is 41,600 within the municipality and 26,999 within the municipal unit. The current mayor is Christoforos Siafakas, who has been in office since 2023.