Strong Earthquake Strikes Lesvos, Felt Across Aegean

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The news in Greek

1. πλήττω
   χτυπώ ή προκαλώ ζημιά σε κάποιον ή κάτι ↩︎
2. νησί (n.)
   κομμάτι ξηράς που περιβάλλεται από νερό ↩︎
3. επίκεντρο (n.)
   το σημείο στην επιφάνεια της γης πάνω από το σημείο που προκλήθηκε ένας σεισμός ↩︎
4. αισθητός
   που γίνεται αντιληπτός με τις αισθήσεις ↩︎
5. νησί (n.)
   κομμάτι ξηράς που περιβάλλεται από νερό ↩︎
6. τραυματισμός (m.)
   πρόκληση βλάβης στο σώμα κάποιου ↩︎
7. προληπτικός
   που αποσκοπεί στην αποτροπή ενδεχόμενης βλάβης ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Where was the epicenter of the earthquake that hit Lesvos?

Question: What was the depth of the earthquake?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
πλήττω	strike
νησί (n.)	island
επίκεντρο (n.)	epicentre
αισθητός	perceptible
τραυματισμός (m.)	injuries
προληπτικός	preventive

Read the full story

The tremor was widely sensed in surrounding regions, including the islands of Chios and the broader area of Thrace, as well as the Turkish coastline. Many inhabitants of Mytilene, the capital of Lesvos, reported experiencing strong shaking, prompting numerous individuals to evacuate their homes for safety.

Local authorities were quick to respond, with fire services and civil protection units conducting thorough inspections to identify any potential damage. Up until late in the evening, no immediate injuries or significant building damage had been reported. The public remained vigilant as evaluations of the aftermath continued.

Expert analysis of the earthquake has been varied. Professor Efthimios Lekkas, a geologist and president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, commented that the earthquake originated from a substantial underwater fault line. He noted that this particular fault had been active four years prior, generating seismic activity, but stated that there should not be cause for major concern.

In a related development, a smaller aftershock measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale followed the main quake. Experts, including seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos, have indicated that further aftershocks are expected as the area stabilises.

For precautionary reasons, schools in the municipal communities of Mantamados, Mithymna, and Petra were closed to allow for building inspections. Taïarchis Verros, the Mayor of Western Lesvos, assured the community that these measures were preventative, as no damage to school facilities had been reported.

Meanwhile, reports indicated some disruptions, such as rockslides between the villages of Argennos and Vafeios, temporarily blocking roadways. Local emergency services were dispatched to secure and clear the affected areas.

The situation continues to be monitored closely by local and regional authorities as they strive to ensure the safety and normalcy for the communities on Lesvos and surrounding islands. The event is a reminder of the geographical and seismic complexities of the region, a sentiment echoed by officials and residents alike.

Info: ‘Greek Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Greek’, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek. We offer various online courses, including Greek for beginners, to help students master the language at their own pace.