Two ferries will provide temporary accommodation to earthquake-hit residents who cannot return to their homes due to damages. “Superfast XI” with 700 beds already arrived, “Eleftherios Venizelos” with 1,300 beds is expected to reach Kefalonia within the next hours.
According to Interior Minister Yiannis Michelakis already 500 people have sought accommodation in Superfast ferry (Skai TV)
Authorities decided that accommodating people in ferries than in tents was more efficient due to low winter temperatures.
Hundreds of residents spent the night outside their homes and slept in their cars, as seismologists warned them not to return to their homes if they were damaged. But it was also ‘fear’ that pushed the island’s residents to spent the cold January night outside.
Notes for residents
Residents are warned not to use tab water if there are changes in smell and color.
source: inkefalonia.gr
On Monday morning authorities declared ‘state of emergency’ for Kefalonia, procedures are on the way to record the damages. Priority is the inspection of public buildings on damages, private properties will follow.
The electricity and water supply have been restored in most areas of the island.
quake damages in Lixouri graveyard.
Closed because of landslides is the provincial road Lixouri – Argostoli, while several mountain roads are closed.
More than 86 aftershocks occurred, 12 of them above 4R. The strongest aftershock occurred on Sunday night with 5.1R. Seismologists still puzzling whether the powerful tremor of 5.9R on Sunday afternoon was the main earthquake.Speaking to Greek media, seismologists say they need 48 hours to say with 100% certainty it was the main earthquake and that not another one, a stronger, will occur.
The length of rift is estimated 15-20 km.
Kefalonia lies just to the east of a major tectonic fault, where the European plate meets the Aegean plate at a slip boundary. the area it known to produce earthquakes.
Kefalonia great earthquake of 1953:
A destructive earthquake took place on August 12, 1953 at 09:24 UTC (11:24 local time), with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale. Its epicentre was directly below the southern tip of Kefalonia, and caused the entire island to be raised 60 cm (24 in) higher, where it remains, with evidence in water marks on rocks around the coastline.
The powerful tremor occurred three days after a 6.4R earthquake.
This 1953 disaster caused huge destruction in Kefaloni,a Zakynthos and Ithaki islands.
From the 33,000 houses on these islands 27,659 were flattened.
Only regions in the north of Kefalonia escaped the heaviest tremors and houses there remained intact. Damage was estimated to run into tens of millions of dollars, equivalent to billions of drachmas, but the real damage to the economy occurred when residents left the island. An estimated 100,000 of the population of 125,000 left the island soon after, seeking a new life elsewhere.
476 people were killed and 2,412 were injured.
Ever since the great earthquake of 1953, buildings in the are are constructed under strict anti-seismic standards.
Seven people have been treated for minor injuries due to falling of items, Greek media report.
It was really a miracle that no human losses were recorded.
More pictures: newsit, inkefalonia, zougla, and others.
See also KTG’s report on Jan 26/2014: Powerful earthquakes 5.9R and 5.2R hit Kefalonia (pics, video)
