Continuous aftershocks after 5.7 Richter in the Cypriot Gulf

Two powerful were noted in the Ionian Sea shortly after 9 a.m. Friday morning (29.3.2024) open to and to Elias. The land continues to shake after the 5.7 Richter earthquake that became felt until Athens. By 11:00 there had been 7 aftershocks with their sizes ranging from 2.6 to 3.5 Richter. Seismologists who follow the evolution of the phenomenon carefully consider the sequence to be normal and that the morning earthquake was the master. Fortunately no injuries were reported, except minor material damage to Zakynthos and Ilia. Small damages were caused to the castle in Strofadia by the powerful earthquake that hit the area this morning. According to sources from the Holy Metropolis of Zakynthos, from the earthquake four stones were detached from the ceiling to the ground without further damage being caused. On the site, there were artisan workers, who, working for the restoration of the monastery. After the earthquake the workers were removed and are all well in their health. In Zakynthos, no damage or injuries from the earthquake have been reported so far. The students are in the courtyards of the schools, while at the moment there is a meeting of Mayor of Zakynthos George Stasinopoulos with Deputy Regional Commissioner Constantine Kapodistrias on the subject. Fire department stairwells carry out preventive checks. The first earthquake was 4.3 Richter and the second – one minute apart – was 5.7 Richter. The epicenter is located near the Strofades off Messinia in Kyparissisikos bay. According to the Geodynamic Institute, at 9:11 in the morning there was the first earthquake 4.3 Richter with a focal depth of 34 km while the epicenter was 17 km east of the Stroads. At 9:12 there was also a second strongest earthquake of 5.7 Richter with a focal depth of 21.4 km and a epicenter of 14 km east of the Stroads. The vibration was particularly strong and felt in Athens. The President of OASP, Euthymios Lekkas, appeared on ERT television, who noted that: “We should not worry because the earthquake took place in a sea area away from residential areas. He became felt in many areas and we are dealing with a large earthquake.” He explained that “it makes no sense if it is a double or single earthquake but in what zone is its focal depth. It is from a horizontal slip fault that runs through the bottom of the Ionian Sea.” He noted that there are “some cracks in monasteries in Trofades. We need to monitor the process. We are watching it and we are ready” and stressed that: “We have no recorded earthquakes from this particular fault”. Finally, Euthymios Lekkas added that there is no issue of concern for the inhabitants, but it would be good not to approach ruined homes and not to dwell in houses that have static problems. It is worth noting that shortly after the strong vibration followed a 2.9 Richter aftershock. Closed schools in Ilia The interruption of courses in all schools of Primary and Secondary Education Ilias was requested by Vice-Region of Ilias, Nikos Korovesis, after the 5.7 Richter earthquake. “Climates of the Fire Department and engineers of the Ilia counter-region have started checks to see if there are any problems from the dual seismic vibration,” Nikos Korovesis said. He also said that “no problem has yet been mentioned, while we made the decision to prevent the evacuation of public buildings, where there is a concentration of citizens, such as the building of regional unity in the Tower and the building of courts.” He also said that “school students immediately after the earthquake gathered in the courtyards and an oral order has already been given, so that they do not function today.” For his part, Mayor Zacharos, Kostas Mitropoulos, told the RES – ICM that “there is currently no mention of any damage caused by earthquakes, while city engineers have gone to schools in order to control the buildings.”