4.8 Earthquake Rattles Evia in Greece

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred on Friday under the sea near the coast of the island of Evia in Greece.

According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the earthquake occurred at 16:15 local time 24 km east of the town of Kymi with a focal depth of 14.6 km.

The Mayor of Kymi-Aliveri, Nikos Barakos, speaking to iefimerida, said that the earthquake shook the area, however, no damage has been reported for the time being.

Two more earthquakes of smaller magnitude followed.

The earthquake does not cause much concern, Efthymios Lekkas, president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP) said.

“The earthquake came from the sea area off Kymi, between Skyros and Kymi. It was also strongly felt in Attica, especially in large constructions. It does not cause concern, although the area can produce a larger earthquake. We are monitoring the development of the phenomenon.” he added speaking on public television ERT.

In November 2023, a 5.1 earthquake rattled the island of Evia.

Earlier this week, a 4.8 earthquake occurred under the sea near the coast of Peloponnese, Greece.

According to the Geodynamic Institute, the quake had a very shallow depth of 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) and was felt widely in the area.

The epicenter of the earthquake was between the towns of Kranidi and Leonidio. No damage has been reported.

Scientists warn that Greece could be struck by a large earthquake

Greece may be struck by a large earthquake like the one which has devastated Turkey and Syria, at least two Greek scientists said early in 2023.

The seismological forecasts were made during conversations about the impacts of the natural disasters in Turkey and Syria. The professors expressed concern that a similarly large earthquake could affect Greece sometime in the future.

Speaking in two separate interviews, Professor Konstantinos Synolakis and Professor Costas Papazachos drew similar conclusions when assessing the history of seismic activity in the Greek region.

Greece lies in a highly seismically active region. The vast majority of earthquakes cause no damage or injuries, however.

In October 2020, an earthquake that struck the eastern Greek Aegean island of Samos and the nearby Turkish coast killed two people on Samos and at least seventy-five people in Turkey.

Greece is located in a complex geological boundary zone in the eastern Mediterranean between the African and Eurasian Plates. The northern part of Greece lies on the Eurasian Plate, while the southern part lies on the Aegean Sea Plate.

The Aegean Sea Plate is moving southwestward with respect to the Eurasian Plate at about an inch (thirty millimeters) per year, while the African Plate is moving northward, sliding beneath the Aegean Sea Plate at a rate of about 1.6 inches (forty millimeters) per year.