Nicosia, April 16 (RHC)-- An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale has struck Cyprus in what has been described as the strongest tremor that has shaken the east Mediterranean island over the past 16 years.

The island's geological survey department said the earthquake occurred at 11:25 a.m. local time (0825 GMT) on Wednesday and was later followed by 10 aftershocks.

The epicenter of the quake was off the southwestern Paphos region, but it was reportedly felt in the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia, situated some 110 kilometers (70 miles) away. Police said there were some reports of falling debris, with area officials assessing the damage.

Quakes are frequent but normally of low magnitude in Cyprus, which lies in a second-tier earthquake zone. Wednesday's tremor, whose epicenter was registered at a depth of 25 kilometers (15 miles) under the sea, was the strongest since a 5.6-magnitude quake that hit the island back in 1999.

The strongest earthquake in recent years measured 6.5 on the Richter scale in 1996, which left two people dead and damaged several buildings across Cyprus.

Protester Jumps on Table, Throws Confetti at European Central Bank President

Frankfurt, April 16 (RHC)-- A protester opposed to the austerity policies of the European Central Bank interrupted a news conference by the bank’s president, Mario Draghi, in Frankfurt Wednesday, jumping on a desk in front of Draghi and showering him with confetti made from a statement condemning the ECB’s neoliberal policies.

The protesters, Josephine Witt, was arrested and taken from the building. She wore a T-shirt which read: "End the ECB dick-tatorship."