A strong earthquake 5.2R-magnitude, which was felt throughout Attica, occurred shortly before 00:30 local time, with the epicenter located in Nea Styra, Evia.
HDN Newsroom
According to the revised data, the tremor that occurred today in the early hours of the morning, Tuesday 9/9, was of magnitude 5,2 on the Richter scale in the sea area between Schinias and Styra in Evia. Specifically, the epicenter is located at 5 kilometers west - northwest of Styra and the focal depth at 13.6 kilometers.
Within about 15 minutes of the large tremor, two smaller aftershocks, magnitude 2.5 and 2.6, followed. The sequence continued to decline with four more tremors from 1.6 to 2 on the Richter scale. It is worth noting that two hours earlier, the same area had "given" a 2,6 magnitude tremor.
According to Professor of Natural Disaster Management Efthymis Lekkas, this is an area that does not give large earthquakes, but "at the moment we are evaluating all the data to have more reliable data and estimates". At the same time, he stressed that aftershocks of more than 4 Richter are expected, there is concern about the proximity to the area of Oropos, which gives slightly greater tremors, while the scientists of the OASP met extraordinarily via teleconference to assess the situation.
"We have dispersed vehicles in eastern Attica and southern Evia, similarly the first and seventh EMAK are on standby. And ESKEDIK communicates with all our services and the services of ELAS and local government about it," said sources from the Civil Protection.
Giorgos Kelaiditis, deputy regional governor of Evia, noted, at the same time, that he contacted the president in Nea Styra, adding that so far they have no reports of damage. The tremor was very felt in Chalkida.
"There is no reason to worry" from the earthquake of 5,2 on the Richter scale that occurred 27 minutes after midnight in the sea area between Schinias and Nea Styra in Evia, the professor of Geology and president of the OASP, Efthymios Lekkas, told ERT.
The tremor, the epicenter of which is located at 5 km. west-northwest of Nea Styra, Evia, had a focal depth of 13.6 km.
"So far there have been at least 15 tremors with a magnitude of up to 2,7. We are probably dealing with the main earthquake, however we still have to wait to see the evolution of the seismic sequence", added speaking to ERT in the morning hours today, Tuesday, Mr. Lekkas while underlining that "there is no issue, the area is an area that does not usually give larger earthquakes based on historical and instrumental data. We are following the progress of the service, but there is absolutely no reason to worry."
So far there are no reports of significant damage. The Fire Brigade has proceeded with patrols with the dispersion of vehicles in southern Evia and eastern Attica, while the 1st and 7th EMAK were put on standby.
Many residents of Nea Styra spent the evening outdoors fearing a bigger earthquake. "The earthquake lasted and we were very worried. It was the first time we felt such a strong earthquake in our area," a resident of Nea Styra told ERT.
In addition, ESKEDIK is in communication with all the services of Civil Protection and the Fire Brigade as well as the Hellenic Police. and local government.
As residents of Marathon told ERT, it was the first time they felt such a strong earthquake in the area.
Why did it become so noticeable in Attica
According to the automatic solution of the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, the earthquake had a magnitude of 5,2 and a long duration.
The epicenter of the tremor was located in the sea area 5 kilometers west-northwest of Nea Styra in Evia, with a focal depth estimated at 13,6 kilometers.
From the Athens Observatory, the director of the Geodynamic Institute, Vassilis Karastathis, reiterated that the data show a smooth development but added that he remains cautious as the picture will be clarified in the coming hours regarding the seismic sequence.
The data is not yet complete, but the region's seismicity history is reassuring, he told ERT News.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos spoke about the 5.2R and explained the reason why the earthquake was so severe in the Attica basin.
"The earthquake was quite strong, near the area of Attica, and that is why it was felt very strongly throughout the region and of course in Evia," Mr. Papadopoulos initially said.
"5.2R, surface earthquake, quite strong, in the sea area, which is located on one side in eastern Attica and on the other in the area of Nea Styra. It is an earthquake with an epicenter and focus in the sea area in the southern Euboean Gulf. He is close to us, that's why he was very strongly felt," he added, speaking to Mega.
He also ruled out the possibility that the earthquake activated a nearby fault, such as that of Parnitha.
