Strong Earthquake Shakes Evia and Attica

The news in Greek

1. σεισμός  (m.)
   Φυσικό φαινόμενο απότομης κίνησης της γης που προκαλείται από φυσικές δυνάμεις και εκδηλώνεται κυρίως ως τρέμουλο ή δόνηση του εδάφους. ↩︎
2. αισθητός
   Αυτός που μπορεί να γίνει αντιληπτός με τις αισθήσεις. ↩︎
3. μετασεισμός  (m.)
   Δόνηση του εδάφους που ακολουθεί έναν ισχυρό σεισμό και συνήθως είναι μικρότερης έντασης. ↩︎
4. ειδικός  (m.)
   Άτομο που έχει εξειδικευμένες γνώσεις ή δεξιότητες σε ένα πεδίο. ↩︎
5. δήμος  (m.)
   Οι τοπικές αρχές που διευθύνουν μια πόλη ή κοινότητα. ↩︎
6. προσεκτικός
   Αυτός που επιδεικνύει προσοχή ή συγκέντρωση. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What was the magnitude of the earthquake that occurred near Athens?

Question 2: What should the citizens do according to the experts?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
σεισμός  (m.)	earthquake
αισθητός	perceptible
μετασεισμός  (m.)	aftershock
ειδικός  (m.)	specialist
δήμος  (m.)	municipality
προσεκτικός	careful

Read the full story

In the early hours of Tuesday, a strong earthquake measuring between 5.1 and 5.3 on the Richter scale struck the region of New Styra in Evia. The quake was felt intensely in Attica, including Athens, and surrounding areas, leading to widespread alarm among residents.

According to initial assessments by Greece’s Geodynamic Institute, the epicentre was located in the maritime area north of New Styra and east of Marathon, with a focal depth of approximately 2.3 km. This shallow depth contributed to the quake’s significant perceptibility.

Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos advised that aftershocks are to be expected, potentially reaching up to 4.5 on the Richter scale. However, he reassured that the known faults in the area are not capable of producing major earthquakes and are unlikely to trigger further seismic activities.

The University of Thessaloniki‘s seismologist, Manolis Skordilis, suggested the event may already have been the main earthquake. He stated that despite its intensity, the earthquake stemmed from a relatively small seismic zone, historically characterised by low seismic activity.

Meanwhile, local authorities have responded by declaring the Carystos municipality in a state of emergency. An emergency meeting was held with the participation of government officials, community leaders, and the mayor of Carystos. The meeting focused on evaluating the situation and ensuring public safety.

Reports from residents and local officials indicate that while the earthquake felt powerful, immediate structural damage was minimal. Mayor Lefteris Ravieros confirmed that no serious damages or injuries were recorded, echoing statements from Marathon Mayor Stergios Tsirkas and Nikos Drakogiannis, the president of New Styra community, who only reported minor damage.

The National Observatory of Athens noted that the earthquake’s mechanism involved a normal slip fault, with possible strike directions reflecting the regional fault lines. Despite its impact, experts concur that the quake did not affect larger active fault lines in a manner that would suggest a stronger subsequent event.

The region remains under close observation, with the public advised to remain vigilant but calm. As experts gather more data, they continue to evaluate the risk of further seismic activity. Citizens are reminded that buildings with reinforced concrete are considered safe, and significant aftershocks are not anticipated to exceed moderate levels.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek”, a language school dedicated to teaching the Greek language through various types of online courses. Our resources provide support for individuals keen on Greek mastery, and for those eager to start their journey, the path to Greek learn begins here.