5.2 Richter quake rocks Messinia
A strong earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale shook the area around the village of Meligala, in the southern Peloponnese prefecture of Messinia, early yesterday. Several old buildings collapsed and many more were seriously damaged, according to local authorities. No injuries were reported. According to initial estimates about 30 prefabricated houses will be required to house those whose homes were damaged. The quake struck at 5.01 a.m., 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the town of Kalamata, which in 1986 had been hit by a major earthquake in which 20 people died. Athens Geodynamic Institute director Giorgos Stavrakakis said it was too early to say if the quake was the main tremor. However, since then, there have been a number of aftershocks of decreasing intensity, indicating it was the main quake, he said. Local authorities said many of the buildings damaged in yesterday’s quake had sustained initial damages in a 5.3 Richter quake in July last year but were not repaired.
