Greece was hit by an earthquake classified as "strong'' on the Richter magnitude scale around 3:25 p.m. local time, the U.S. Geological Survey and Greek scientists said.

The death toll stands at two, said a spokeswoman at the Interior Ministry in Athens, who commented on condition she not be identified by name in accordance with departmental policy.

One man was killed when he was hit by falling masonry, Greek state television channel NET TV reported. A police spokeswoman said she couldn't confirm that report or another that 15 people had been injured, many as they fled their homes and apartments as the quake hit.

A family of three and a young child reported trapped in rubble in two villages in the south Pelopponese region, which bore the brunt of the tremor, have been rescued, Margaritis Mouzas of the country's civil protection agency said on NET.

Today's earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale and occurred 200 kilometers, or 125 miles, west of Athens at a depth of about 7.7 kilometers, the U.S. agency said on its Web site. The tremor was felt in the Greek capital, the most populous city. Athens and Thessaloniki observatories said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5.

Strong tremors are common in Greece because the country lies in one of the world's most active earthquake zones, between Europe and Africa. In September 1999, an earthquake measuring 5.9 hit Athens, resulting in the deaths of 143 people.

Landslides in the aftermath of the earthquake blocked access on some roads in the region, including between Athens and the port city of Patras, the Athens News Agency reported.