Several earthquakes have been shaking the village of Arkalochori in central Crete on Thursday. Over ten tremors occurred, so far, with the strongest ones being 4.5 on the Richter scale. Seismologists consider the intense seismic activity as aftershocks of the 5.8-Richter on September 27 that killed one, injured over 20 people and sent many locals to live in tents.
On Thursday, a double tremor struck with 3.7 R and 4.5 R at 11:04 a.m. and 11:12 a.m. respectively.
It was reportedly followed some 10 aftershocks and another tremor of 4.5 R at 11:38 a.m. The epicenter was 3 km South-South-West of Arkalochori.
Between 11 o’ clock in the morning and 12:30 noon, the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens had recorded another five tremors of 3.1, 2.7, 3.4 3.7 and 3.1 on the Richter scale. another tremor with 3.7 R struck at 12:57.
No injuries of material damages have been reported.
However, due to the intense seismic activity, the Municipalities of Heraklio, Mlevizi and Gortyna ordered the closure of all schools for the rest of the day for preventive reasons, local media reported.
Speaking to news agency amna, head of the Geodynamic Institute, professor Akis Tselentis, said that the two tremors of 4.5R are part of the seismic activity in the area, with epicenter the south part of the fault line.
Tselentis advised residents to be calm but careful and to observe all the appropriate measures and to avoid buildings that have been marked as “uninhabitable” after the earthquake in September. He did not rule out the possibility of a new earthquake with magnitude up to 5 Richter from the same epicenter, amna reported.
Wednesday morning, an earthquake measuring 4.3 R with epicenter 33 km South-East of Heraklio had again shaken the island of Crete.
