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live Another earthquake of 4.6 in Kefalonia

28 January 2014 / 12:01:13  GRReporter
11901 reads

A strong earthquake of 4.6 on the Richter scale woke up the residents of Kefalonia after another restless night.

Many of them spent it in their cars again, as the engineering teams have not yet verified the stability of their houses. At the same time, the majority of the people are afraid that there is a real danger of a stronger earthquake. The seismic activity in the region continued during the night, with many long shocks that were not strong.


Photo: ethnos.gr

Over 1,000 people whose houses have been particularly affected by the earthquake and declared dangerous for habitation by the expert teams spent the night on board the "Superfast 11" ship. It is expected that a second ship ("Eleftherios Venizelos" of ANEK lines), which has 1,300 berths, will arrive later today. So far, it is unclear whether it will be able to dock at Argostoli, as the earthquake has destroyed part of the port. The authorities are considering various options, the most likely being to transfer the people to the second ship with the help of the other ship.


Photo: tovima.gr

At the same time, the road connections on the island are interrupted as the road connecting Argostoli and Lixouri has been destroyed in several places.


Photo: tovima.gr

It is expected that the problems caused by the strong earthquake of 5.8 on the Richter scale on Sunday will intensify due to bad weather. Meteorologists expect heavy rainfall in Kefalonia today, which will continue until the evening. Winds will be strong as well and will reach 5 and 6, and in some places even 7, on the Beaufort scale. Temperatures will be lower than the seasonal average on the island, namely between 9 and 13 degrees Celsius.

The most severe damage due to the earthquake is registered in Lixouri town in the western part of Kefalonia and in the villages around it. Large public buildings such as the nursing home, the old building of the regional administration and of the courthouse are damaged.

A new video recorded by the camera in the office of an islander gives an idea of the strength of the quake. The roar that accompanies it is scary.

The strong earthquake has completely changed one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, Myrtos, which is located in the northern part of Kefalonia, since tons of soil have covered the beach and the sea.

The beach before the earthquake and after it

GRReporter reader Tsanka Georgieva, who lives on the neighbouring Zakynthos island, described the moment of the earthquake on Sunday, "It was frightening here too. It seemed to me that the whole house was walking. The good thing was that there were no casualties. Personally I am still under stress."

The expert statements are not yet certain that the peak of the phenomenon has passed. Seismologist Vassilis Papazachos from Thessaloniki Aristotle University states that the seismic activity will continue in the coming days and warns the residents not to return to their houses before the engineering teams verify their stability. The professor also adds that a powerful aftershock can be particularly dangerous for those houses that have suffered damage.

At the same time, professor of geology at Athens University Efthimios Lekas ​​suggests that the earthquake on Sunday was the main one.

"We have solved the mystery of the quake. We know the exact location of the seismic fault, how the seismic activity is developing and I think that, from this point onwards, things will go well," he said in an interview for the Athens News Agency AMNA, adding,

"It would be better if there were a quake of up to 5.4 on the Richter scale in order for the seismic impulse to calm down."

The seismic instruments continue to register dozens of earthquakes in Kefalonia, all below 4.2 on the Richter scale.


 

 

 

Tags: SocietyEarthquakeKefaloniaDamageBeachMyrtos
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