Quake under Antirio bridge
A strong earthquake yesterday morning struck the site where Greece’s longest suspension bridge is being built, but no injuries or damage were reported. The earthquake registered 5 on the Richter scale, and occurred at 10.27 a.m., 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) beneath the town of Antirio, from where a 2.25km bridge is being built to link central Greece with Rio in the northern Peloponnese. The bridge, scheduled for completion in September, is designed to withstand earthquakes of over 7 on the Richter scale. «It was an insignificant incident,» Asklipios Dimoglou, deputy project manager, said. «We face such earthquakes every month.» Seismologists, however, voiced mild concern, noting that the Antirio fault has not been responsible for quakes over 4 Richter in recent years. «We must wait a couple of days before giving a more secure estimate,» seismology professor Akis Tselentis said. «Until then, it would be a good idea for local residents to avoid staying in old buildings.»
