Southern Greece was rattled by a strong earthquake Thursday at 12:09 p.m. (1009 GMT), but there were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the preliminary magnitude of the earthquake was 7.3, but later it was revised to 6.7. The Geodynamic Institute of Thessaloniki University in northern Greece established a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, the Associated Press reported.

The quake had an epicenter about 225 kilometers south-west of Athens, in the area of Methoni, near the southern Peloponnese city of Kalamata. However it was felt throughout the Peloponnese, as well as the western port city of Patras and the southern Mediterranean island of Crete.

Witnesses in Athens said the quake lasted at least 15 seconds. “We were shaken for quite a long time, swaying back and forth,” an Athens resident told Reuters news agency.

The quake was felt as far away as Cairo, in Egypt.

No reports of casualties or damage have been reported so far. Reports said school children were immediately evacuated from all schools in the area. The quake also sent people from buildings in cities of southern Greece, local media reported.

Earthquakes are frequent in Greece. The last serious earthquake was in September 1999 and killed 100 people. In late January another earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 hit Athens causing no damages.