AN EARTHQUAKE has hit the holiday hotspot Crete in Greece as the large 6.3-magnitude tremor hit the Mediterranean island.

The quake was at a depth of 83km, the German Research Centre for Geosciences said.

The US Geological Survey recorded a lower quake at 6.1 magnitude.

Citizens in Israel have reported feeling shockwaves from the earthquake, especially in the centre of the country including Tel Aviv, The Jerusalem Post reports.

More than 624,000 people reside in Crete, with around a third of the island’s population living in Heraklion – the capital.

It’s generally thought that any earthquake over 6.0 can cause damage if it hits a populated area.

Roughly 100 earthquakes with a magnitude between 6.1 and 6.9 are recorded each year, according to Michigan Tech University.

It comes after the idyllic Greek island of Santorini was plunged into a state of emergency in February as a total of 7,700 tremors shook the isle in two weeks.

Around 7,700 earthquakes have shaken the Santorini-Amorgos seismic zone since January 26.

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.