According to the Athens Geodynamic Institute, the magnitude of the earthquake, which struck at 9.17 am local time, was 5.8. It said the epicenter of the quake was at a depth of six miles, 14 miles northwest of the seaside village of Arvi in southeastern Crete.
The man, confirmed dead, was found unconscious from a chapel in the town of Arkalochori, south of the island’s capital, Heraklion. He was working on the renovation of the chapel.
Civil Defense officials confirmed to CNN that there was extensive damage to some buildings, mostly older ones, and that schools were closed for the day. Government officials are in the fray to take stock of the damage.
The Greek Fire Service said in a statement that its forces were immediately dispatched to the area and extensive patrolling was underway.
According to EU statistics, Crete is the largest and most populous of all the Greek islands, with a population of over 634,000.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) had earlier reported that the initial magnitude of the quake was 6.5.
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