An earthquake of 6.4 magnitude off the coast of Crete caused minor damage on the Greek island yesterday, but there were no reports of casualties or serious destruction, police and the fire brigade said.

The centre of the quake was 22.5 miles below the seabed and 43 miles west of Chania on Crete, the US Geological Survey said. Tremors were felt as far as the Greek capital Athens, about 180 miles away, and across southern Greece, including the Peloponnese peninsula and the Cyclades cluster of islands, the Athens Geological Institute said.