Kefalonia in a state of emergency
27.01.2014
11:50
The island is shaking continuously, 5.1 Richter aftershock at night - Autopsy today in schools and public buildings - The buildings of the island endured - More damages in Lixouri - Meeting of top seismologists in the island which is considered as one of the most seismic regions worldwide
Kefalonia is declared in a state of emergency, as Interior Minister I. Michelakis said, in order to facilitate the procedures for assessing the damages and aid those affected.
The people of the island, who on Sunday noon were rocked by a 5.8 Richter scale earthquake that struck the island, see that it caused extensive damages to homes and shops. Kefalonia is still "shaking" with residents afraid to go back to their homes. The night found them on the streets, despite the bad weather.
Seismology professor at the University of Patras Akis Tselentis talked about a large aftershock in the next few days in Kefalonia. Speaking on the morning show of ANT1 he said the phenomenon progresses smoothly, while the rich aftershocks are something perfectly reasonable. He added that the 5.8 Richter quake was "90% the main earthquake," and recommended that the islanders whose homes were not damaged could return to them. He also said the sturdy constructions in Kefalonia helped not to mourn victims. "If the earthquake had occurred elsewhere in the country we would be talking about victims now."
In an interview at Mega the Interior Minister announced that two ships will travel to the island immediately to accommodate more than 2,000 people. He also stated that public services in Kefalonia will operate on a 24 hour basis.
At the same time, seismologists are skeptical about whether the 5.8 Richter was the main earthquake. "It takes an earthquake of 5.4 Richter to continue smoothly with the seismic sequence," OASP vice president Efthimios Lekkas told the morning broadcast of SKAI.
More than 25 aftershocks following the powerful earthquake
The people of the island, who on Sunday noon were rocked by a 5.8 Richter scale earthquake that struck the island, see that it caused extensive damages to homes and shops. Kefalonia is still "shaking" with residents afraid to go back to their homes. The night found them on the streets, despite the bad weather.
Seismology professor at the University of Patras Akis Tselentis talked about a large aftershock in the next few days in Kefalonia. Speaking on the morning show of ANT1 he said the phenomenon progresses smoothly, while the rich aftershocks are something perfectly reasonable. He added that the 5.8 Richter quake was "90% the main earthquake," and recommended that the islanders whose homes were not damaged could return to them. He also said the sturdy constructions in Kefalonia helped not to mourn victims. "If the earthquake had occurred elsewhere in the country we would be talking about victims now."
In an interview at Mega the Interior Minister announced that two ships will travel to the island immediately to accommodate more than 2,000 people. He also stated that public services in Kefalonia will operate on a 24 hour basis.
At the same time, seismologists are skeptical about whether the 5.8 Richter was the main earthquake. "It takes an earthquake of 5.4 Richter to continue smoothly with the seismic sequence," OASP vice president Efthimios Lekkas told the morning broadcast of SKAI.
More than 25 aftershocks following the powerful earthquake
Tens of strong aftershocks over 3.5 on the Richter scale took place after the earthquake of 5.8 that hit Kefalonia four minutes before 4 pm Sunday.
At 20:45 there was a strong aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale, the focal depth of which is located at 10km., causing even greater concern.
The rich aftershock activity however, is considered a good development by the seismologists who appreciate that the strong earthquake that occurred at 15:55 was the main earthquake.
Extensive damages to houses and shops around the island
The 5.8 Richter scale earthquake caused damages to roads, houses and shops with the most extensive ones in Lixouri which was closer to the epicenter.
At 20:45 there was a strong aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale, the focal depth of which is located at 10km., causing even greater concern.
The rich aftershock activity however, is considered a good development by the seismologists who appreciate that the strong earthquake that occurred at 15:55 was the main earthquake.
Extensive damages to houses and shops around the island
The 5.8 Richter scale earthquake caused damages to roads, houses and shops with the most extensive ones in Lixouri which was closer to the epicenter.
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