An earthquake stroke with 6 Richter Thessaly in Central Greece at 12:03 Wednesday noon and spread panic among the citizens as it was followed by two strong aftershocks. Seismologists and local authorities have advised citizens to stay outdoors for at least two hours fearing strong aftershocks. One man trapped in rubble after house collapsed. Three people slightly injured.
The earthquake had a low focal depth and was felt in parts of the mainland far away as well as in neighboring Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bulgaria.
M5.9 #earthquake (#σεισμός) strikes 118 km SW of #Thessaloníki (#Greece) 12 min ago. Updated map of its effects: pic.twitter.com/O44tfklgZ0
— EMSC (@LastQuake) March 3, 2021
The earthquake occurred in the fault line of Tyrnavos by Elassona. Its epicenter was 10 km West-North-West of Tyrnavos and 16 km South of Elassona. Its focal depth was 7.8 km.
Initial reports gave the magnitude with 5.9 R, The National Observatory of Athens announced it was 6 R. US and German seismological institutes gave the magnitude as 6.3R.
When the earthquake stroke, locals rushed to the streets and panicked as two strong aftershocks followed. Also school children run outside.
Locals told media that the earthquake lasted “very long.”
According to latest information, the area most affected by the powerful tremor is the village Mesochori, where at least one house has collapsed and several other buildings including a school were damaged.
State broadcaster ERT reported that an elderly bed-ridden man is trapped under the rubble of the collapsed house. His wife managed to rush out and inform neighbors and authorities. According to latest information, rescuers are on the spot, the man is alive.
The rescue operation was completed with success, the mayor told ERT TV.
The school in village Damasi, where a wall collapsed, was closed and empty of children and staff.
Damages in houses, buildings and churches have been reported in the broader area of the epicenter, as well as minor landslides.
One and a half hour after the earthquake, there have been no calls to the Fire Service for people trapped in rubble.
Seismologists have advised citizens to stay outdoors due to strong aftershocks. The biggest, so far, was 5.7 R.
Note that many houses in the area are old.
According to experts, the 6R were most likely the main earthquake.
Within an hour after the earthquake, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu offered SearchAndRescue assistance to Greece.
Of all the natural disasters, earthquakes scare me the most. You feel utterly helpless!