ATHENS

Strong tremors felt in Greece's capital measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale were centered 23 kilometers (14.3 miles) northwest of Athens, reported the country's quake-observing authority on Friday. 

The Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens added that the earthquake hit just before 2:30 p.m. local time (1130GMT).

Seismologist Costas Papazachos told reporters that the earthquake came from the same rift as a previous one that shook the Greek capital in 1999.

The tremors had a shallow focal depth of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), the EuroMediterranean Seismic Centre said on the earthquake highly felt in Athens.

Reports have emerged of minor damages from areas in central Athens as well as multiple aftershocks.

Firefighters have so far received 76 calls for assistance, including people trapped in lifts due to power cuts.