Damage from central Greece quakes beats expectations
Dozens of aftershocks have struck following an earthquake in central Greece this week that was felt as far away as Athens.
A magnitude 4.9 temblor hit the region of Fthiotida Friday following the 5.1-magnitude quake on Wednesday.
Thanassis Ganas, a seismologist at the Athens Observatory, said the earthquake was “a normal tremor given the major earthquake a few days earlier.”
“Local residents must avoid old buildings that suffered damage in the previous quakes,” he added.
Meanwhile, experts inspecting houses in villages in the area said the damage was greater than originally thought.
At least half of a total 100 houses in the village of Reggini have been slated for demolition, they said.
According to the regional governor of Fthiotida, Thomas Staikos, up to 120 houses in villages in the area have been deemed uninhabitable.
Scientists from the National Technical University of Athens who inspected the buildings said the design and construction of the structures was not earthquake-resistant, which explains the big toll.
