More quakes for recently rocked
More earthquakes are likely to rock towns and villages in central Greece this week, seismologists said yesterday just one day after the area around Lake Trichonida was hit by six tremors which caused minor damage to a number of schools, offices and homes in the area. A number of weak tremors were recorded in the region yesterday. They ranged between 3.5 and 4 Richter – much lower than Tuesday’s quakes, the strongest of which registered 5.4 on the Richter scale. «At the moment, we are missing the intermediate magnitudes of 4 to 5.5 Richter so we cannot say that the phenomenon is over,» said Giorgos Drakatos, research director at the Geodynamic Institute. «We cannot expect the area’s [seismic] energy to dissipate in one or two days,» Drakatos told Kathimerini. «The possibility of another powerful earthquake similar to Tuesday’s cannot be ruled out.» The Lake Trichonida area was hit by two powerful tremors in the space of 10 days 32 years ago. Special equipment was taken to the area yesterday to help experts assess the situation, which has sparked concern among residents who fear that a stronger earthquake could cause serious damage to their homes or even result in deaths or injuries. The quakes damaged around 70 homes and two schools in Aitoloacarnania. A water tank in the village of Lithovouni was damaged, interrupting supplies to some 10,000 people. Authorities said supplies resumed as normal yesterday. Engineers are checking some 350 buildings to ensure they are safe following Tuesday’s quake. In addition, outdoor pavilions are being erected to serve as temporary classrooms for schools affected by the quake.
