Nisyros

The island of Kos is taking stock of the extent of the damage caused after the powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit at 1.30am on Friday morning resulting in the death of two people. The island’s port has suffered major damage and has closed down after offi

A strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea has killed at least two people on the Greek island of Kos, officials say. The deaths were confirmed to the Athens News Agency by the island’s Mayor, George Kyritsis.

Nisyros is not your typical Greek island. This small land mass in the Aegean is also an active volcano. It is the youngest along a rift in the Southern Aegean and has experienced at least three major eruptions in the past 45,000 years. One of these, around 16,000 years ago, was particularly destructive, blanketing a wide area with volcanic ash.

The Russian edition of National Geographic Traveler recommended its readers visit the Greek islands of Kos, Kalymnos, Nisyros and Patmos in a 4-page feature piece. The June-August issue was released on Tuesday, and informs its Russian readers on what to do, where to go on each island, including activities such as yachting, sailing, climbing etc.

A 5.3 magnitude quake rattled the island of Nisyros in the southeastern Aegean Tuesday and was also felt on Kos and other nearby islands, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

The quake's epicenter was 23 kilometers west-southwest of Nisyros.

Seismologists could not ascertain if it was a main quake and are closely monitoring seismic activity in the area.

The Greek government submitted an amendment concerning the suspension of a VAT hike in Aegean islands, Monday morning. However, despite Greek PM Alexis Tsipras’s promises that the measure would remain active on the islands as long as the refugee crisis lasted, the amendment itself shows it will actually have a one-year effect until December 31 2017.

Insisting that his government will never betray its commitment to social cohesion, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reiterated Tuesday that islands of the eastern Aegean will be exempt from a value-added tax hike introduced as part of the country's bailout commitments, as they are the ones, he said, that have borne the brunt of the ongoing migrant crisis.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday announced a series of measures regarding eastern Aegean Greek islands during an address from the island of Nisyros.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras was expected to tour the eastern Aegean island of Nisyros on Tuesday, government officials have announced. From Nisyros, the premier was set to announce a series of measures regarding Greek islands.

A video released by Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) shows the beauty of lesser known Greek islands that are waiting to be discovered by travellers from around the world.

“Precious diamonds worth discovering for their natural beauty, the intense flavors and aromas, but mainly for their virgin character reminiscent of old times.”