Double quake rocks central Greece

The double earthquake rattled residents of Halkida and became felt throughout Attica. The seismograms of the Geodynamic Institute of National Observatory recorded the two powerful tremors of 5.1 magnitude on the Richter scale at 1:05 and 1:09.

The vibration came from a distance 81 km north-west of Athens, and the epicenter was located 28 km northwest of Halkida.

"The quake was in the seabed. The focus was in faults that have a northwest-southwest direction and the depth was 10 kilometers, "explained Mr. Lekkas.

"We Atalante rift was not energized. The aftershock sequence is progressing satisfactorily with the situation unfolding, reducing the likelihood of a greater earthquake and thus we can probably talk about the main earthquake, "said Efthimios Lekkas.

As Mr Lekkas says, "near the Atalante fault is the fault zone of the North Evian Gulf. We have little chance of a manifestation of greater earthquake. The phenomenon is slowly passing. "

However, this does not preclude a new bigger earthquake in the area of the Gulf of Euboea, the Director of the Geodynamic Institute Akis Tselentis said this morning.

Professor of seismology Akis Tselentis speaking to ANT-1, indicated that the aftershock sequence does not satisfy him, and is probably not the main earthquake.

"This area has a very large seismic potential. The aftershock sequence did not satisfy me. If we do not have many aftershocks over 4 to 4.5 on the Richter scale we have to be a little puzzled. An analysis that we did showed that the fault activated is not the Atalante fault but more to the east and this makes us more complacent.

The next few days we should be very wary. Certainly, it can not be the main earthquake. Residents of Malesina and Halkida should avoid old houses. "

People should be careful, he said, because the area that gave the two vibrations in the morning is of great high seismicity. However MrTselentis stated that the focus of the earthquake is not from the fault of Atalante, but it is very close to it though. He also said that earthquakes like the ones today can not activate the Atalante fault.

We have no direct evidence for upcoming earthquake in the focal area of the Evian Gulf said professor emeritus of seismology Vasilis Papazachos. All our country is a seismic area and so we must learn to live with it, he said, adding that "we seismologists also estimate."

Instead, his son, professor of seismology Kostas Papazachos, moved in line with Tselentis saying he does not exclude the possibility of it being the main earthquake and we must be wary for the next day.

The first shock was recorded at 1:05. Followed by a second at 1:09.

The earthquakes were felt particularly in a wide area stretching from the Peloponnese to Thessaly.

Residents in Halkida, were thrown from their beds and some fledtheir homes fearful of the powerful vibrations.