By Vasiliki Mitsiniotou

ATHENS

A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Greece’s Ionian islands on Tuesday, causing two deaths and flooding, police said.

In Ponti Vasiliki, Lefkada, a 60-year-old woman was killed when a large rock fell from a mountain and hit her home. An 82-year-old woman from nearby Athani was also killed.

Among the eight injured were two boys, an 88-year-old woman and a man, 45.

The Geodynamic Institute of Athens said the quake occurred at 9.10 a.m. local time (0710GMT) between Lefkada and Corfu islands. The epicenter was 11 kilometers (7 miles) off Lefkada’s southwest coast at a depth of 5 km (3 miles).

The quake was followed by aftershocks, the most powerful measuring 5.2-magnitude.

There was extensive damage to roads on the island’s southwest and severe flooding at Vasiliki, fire officials said.

On the nearby island of Ithaca, there was damage to churches, homes and shops. Roads were cut in several places by landslides, Gisdaki Elena, a spokesman for the Ionian prefecture, said.

Secretary of Infrastructure Panagiotis Sgouridis and Efthimios Lekas, president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, visited affected areas.

Tremors were felt across the Ionian islands and in Athens.