Quake wakes Greeks
Sunday, 06 Jan 2008 08:33
The USGS measured the Greece earthquake at 6.1 on the Richter scale
An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale has awoken Greeks in the south of the country this morning.
No casualties have been reported but the tremor was a large one felt by many in the Kalamata area of the country.
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake was 50.9km (31.6 miles) deep with an epicentre near the town of Leonidio, 120km (75 miles) south-west of the capital, Athens.
The quake hit at 07:14 local time (05:14 GMT) this morning, causing panic in many towns and villages in the Peloponnesian region.
Many people reported feeling tremors in Athens, but local officials say there is no major damage as a result.
"We have no reports of serious damage. None at all. All we've heard is that plaster has come loose in several old houses," said Leonidio deputy mayor Ilias Manos said on Greek television.
He added: "It was a very strong earthquake but we've communicated with the surrounding villages and until this moment there is no problem."
Greece is renowned by experts as being the most earthquake-prone country in
Europe.
Many of the villages affected by today's shake were also ravaged by wildfires last summer.