A series of moderate earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.1 to 4.5 struck northern Evia from late Saturday through early Monday, prompting authorities to declare the municipality of Limni-Mantoudi-Agia Anna in a state of emergency.

The quakes caused visible damage to buildings in several villages, including Prokopi and Pili, and led to the closure of schools for a second day.

“There is deformation, but no major fault capable of producing a magnitude 6 quake,” said Athanassios Ganas, research director at the Athens Geodynamic Institute, adding that the region has no record of major earthquakes.

However, the proximity of the quakes to residential areas calls for vigilance, warned Vassilis Karastathis, also of the Geodynamic Institute.

“We must remain cautious even if the risk is not high,” he told Kathimerini. According to Karastathis, the activity likely stems from an unruptured segment of a fault zone activated in 2023 by a 5.1-magnitude quake.

He emphasized that although central Evia is generally low in seismicity, residents should still follow safety protocols. Locals reported strong shaking.

“Glasses and objects fell in homes and shops, and many buildings have cracks, but fortunately we had no injuries,” said Antonis Baziotis, a restaurant owner in Prokopi. Another resident, Afendra Kounti, said people briefly evacuated homes but have returned to daily life.

“We continue our routines as normal,” she said. Authorities and scientists continue to monitor the seismic sequence while gathering data for further assessment.

Source: Ekathimerini.com