6.3 Earthquake in Greece

[masaji79]

ATHENS, Greece (CNN) -- A strong earthquake jolted western Greece on Sunday, killing one person and triggering landslides that have reportedly trapped at least 11 people, according to officials and state-run media.

Another 15 have been injured as a result of the quake, many trying to flee their homes, according to Greece's NET television. It struck around 3:30 p.m. local time and measured 6.1 in magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Athens' Geodynamic Institute registered the quake at 6.5 on the Richter scale -- which is no longer used by the USGS.

Greek Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos has called on assessment and rescue teams to head to the region.

The quake's epicenter was located about 35 km (20 miles) southwest of the Greek port city of Patras in the Peloponnese region. It was "no surprise" that a strong quake hit the region, where earthquakes are common, according to Geodynamic Institute director Gerasimos Papadopoulos.

A family of 10 is believed to be trapped in their collapsed home near the epicenter, NET reported. Also, the network reported that an elderly woman was trapped inside her collapsed home.

People in Athens -- about 125 km (80 miles) east of the epicenter-- felt the ground shake for as long as 20 seconds.

Due to its fault lines, Greece is one of the most quake-prone countries in the European Union. A quake and aftershock both measuring over 6.4 in magnitude struck near Kalamata off the southern coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in mid-February, causing no major damage or injuries.

The last major earthquake in Greece was in 1999 and left about 100 people dead.

[HURAKAN]

Very close to Athens.



Link: http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2008 ... aaw_l.html

[masaji79]

The earthquake has now been upgraded to a 6.3

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqi ... s2008taaw/