Heraklion: Cracks in Buildings Worry Residents – Lekkas Conducts Investigation

On Sunday afternoon (April 27, 2025), Professor Euthymios Lekkas arrived in Boutes to conduct an investigation into the cracks appearing in village homes. Despite no reported earthquakes, significant fissures have formed in several houses, roads, and even the churchyard of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church. ‘Once I examine it closely, we’ll understand what’s happening,’ said Prof. Lekkas, President of OASP and Chair of Tectonics and Applied Geology. Mayor of Heraklion, Alexi Kalokairinos, who had earlier consulted with Prof. Lekkas, confirmed that the municipality would officially request emergency status for the area to expedite repairs to approximately 10 affected homes over a 150-meter radius in this community of 600 residents. Early in the morning, the mayor, along with deputy mayors George Sisamakis and Niko Yalitaki, conducted an inspection with technical staff from the municipality. According to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Prof. Lekkas’s visit aims to investigate the causes, assess potential expansion to nearby areas, and implement immediate measures. The possibility of declaring the region under a state of emergency will also be evaluated.