Magnitude 4.8 earthquake hits Greek island

There are no reports of damage or injuries from a magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck near the Greek island of Karpathos in the Aegean Sea.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 has shaken Greece's southeastern Aegean Sea islands.

No damage or injuries were reported by officials on Friday.

The University of Athens' Geodynamic Institute said the undersea quake had an epicentre 39km northwest of Karpathos and occurred just after 6pm local time.

Karpathos lies between the popular resort islands of Rhodes and Crete in an earthquake-prone part of Greece, which is one of the world's most seismically active areas.

But while earthquakes are common in Greece, fatalities and major damage are rare.

Last month, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Turkey, killing 41 people and injuring 1600.