It is one of the most active seismic zones in western Eurasia and has a history of large earthquakes that also affect Egypt.

[1] In Egypt the earthquake caused severe damage in Cairo, dislodging much of the Great Pyramid's white limestone casing[6] and toppling minarets on many mosques.

[8] According to Alexis Perrey, the earthquake was felt on the entire Adriatic coast, up to Venice (about 1,600 km or 1,000 mi from Heraklion).

[9] Although the precise location of the epicenter is uncertain, it is generally agreed that the earthquake ruptured the eastern segment of the Hellenic arc somewhere between Crete and Rhodes.

[10] Modeling of the tsunami predicts a maximum 9-metre (30 ft) run-up at Alexandria, with about a 40-minute delay from the time of the earthquake to the arrival of the first wave in Egypt.