Seismic activity unfolding, committee says about 4.9 earthquake in Psachna, Evia

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National measuring stations and networks are on alert for seismic activity in the area of Psachna at Evia island, the committee to assess earthquake follow-up threat said after meeting later on Wednesday.

The committee, part of the Organization of Antiseismic Planning and Protection (OASP), was convened at the order of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianides following an earthquake registering 4.9 on the Richter scale at 14:24 the same day. Seismic activity in Evia is still unfolding, the committee said.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 5 km east-southeast of Psachna and felt in Athens. No injuries or damage has been reported except for some broken windows, while the Fire Brigade said it has not received any calls to rescue people that could have been trapped following the quake.

Efthymios Lekkas, Organization of Antiseismic Planning and Protection (OASP) president and chair of the Seismic Threat Evaluation Committee at the organization, said after the committee’s meeting that “there is no cause for concern”.

Professor Lekkas told Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) that “the committee evaluated developments as normal,” and said the committee members could not tell if the earthquake, registered at 14:24, was the main one or not.

“Nature will decide about that,” he noted, adding that the committee is reviewing and updating readiness plans for the area of Psachna, site of a known fault on the island.

Meanwhile, Stylianides, whose ministry oversees OASP, also contacted the mayor of Chalkida to convene a coordination committee. The minister planned to attend the Chalkida meeting through video conference.

Specialists weigh in

University of Thessaloniki seismologist Kostas Papazachos told ANA-MPA that people should be on alert but not panic. The area is known for its seismic activity, as the Psachna fault lies there, he explained.

“Theoretically, this fault could cause an earthquake registering up to 6 on the Richter scale, but has not done so, so far.

On the contrary, up to now it has acted differently, as in 2008, when it caused low-grade earthquakes for nearly a year,” the professor said.

Geodynamic Institute research director Gerassimos Papadopoulos also told ANA-MPA that OASP’s committee should convene to provide an assessment.

He argued, inter alia, that the range of seismic activity on Evia has expanded from southern Evia to central Evia, it was felt in Athens, and its epicenter was also very close to the urban center of Chalkida, the island’s main city and site of the bridge connecting it to the mainland.

On the other hand, the quake raised concerns but there are no reported problems, Deputy Regional Director Giorgos Kelaiditis told ANA-MPA.

“It was very strong, (but) there are no problems right now. I have spoken with residents of Pissonas village, near the epicenter, but they reported no problems.

Civil Protection staff are on patrol as the shocks continue,” he said.

Following the temblor, all Civil Protection agencies, the Fire Brigade, and natural disaster rescuers in EMAK were placed on high alert for more earthquakes.

Authorities have also alerted citizens to avoid entering or remaining in buildings with damage or which are highly vulnerable, and to choose safe routes when driving or walking in case of falling objects.

Local meeting

A meeting of local and regional officials along with representatives of police, the Fire Brigade, and the Civil Protection general secretariat concluded a meeting at Psachna on Wednesday evening.

As with meetings of the earthquake threat assessment committee at OASP and opinions by seismological experts, the meeting concluded in a similar vein that all civil protection agencies would remain on alert.

Fire Brigade teams will be on patrol in the greater Central Evia region, where Psachna and a known geological fault is located, while Infrastructure ministry officials will begin inspection of old buildings on Thursday, especially of public buildings and of schools.

So far, no injuries have been reported, and damage has been limited to a store glass front breaking, and cracks in some old buildings.

Deputy Regional Director Giorgos Kelaiditis, who joined mayors at the meeting in Psachna, said he was cautiously optimistic over developments.

“We were briefed on seismicity in the area, which could potentially cause stronger earthquakes as well,” he said, “but the seismic aftershocks are the expected ones. Naturally, the entire mechanism is on alert.

This means we are not relaxing our vigilance, and the entire civil protection mechanism is unfolding according to plans.”

More information on earthquake protection is also available at the Climate Crisis & Civil Protection ministry (www.civilprotection.gr) and OASP (www.oasp.gr).

Source: ANA-MPA

4.9 Richter quake with epicentre Psahna, Evia island; felt in Athens