A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 jolted the southern Greek island of Crete on Monday prompting the residents to run out into the streets. One person was reported dead after initial information ruled out no injuries or casualty. However, the local media did report damage to building in villages near the epicenter.

The Athens Geodynamic Institute said the quake struck at 9:17 am local time (0617 GMT), with an epicenter 246 kilometers (153 miles) south southeast of the Greek capital, Athens.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center and the US Geological Survey gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.0, with an epicenter seven kilometers (4 miles) north of the village of Thrapsano.

As per reports, it is common for seismological institutes to give varying magnitudes for an earthquake in the initial hours and days after an event.

EMSC said the magnitude was 4.6 as the area was hit by several aftershocks.

Residents of the city of Heraklion rushed out into the streets. Local media in Crete reported some damage, mainly with collapsing walls of old stone buildings in villages near the epicenter of the temblor on the eastern part of the island. Children were evacuated from schools.

Heraklion mayor Vassilis Lambrinos said that there were no immediate reports from emergency services of any injuries or severe damage. He said schools were all evacuated and were to be checked for structural damage.

“The earthquake was strong and was long in duration,” Lambrinos told private Antenna television. “We have requested that schools are evacuated. The children are out in the playgrounds.”

International and domestic flights to Heraklion airport weren’t affected by the quake, while the region’s hoteliers association said there was no serious damage to any hotels in the area, which includes many popular holiday resorts.

(With inputs from Associated Press)