2:57 p.m.: Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu contacted Nikos Dendias
After the earthquake the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck in Elassona, the foreign minister of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed his solidarity with the Greek people. The Turkish foreign minister contacted the Nikos Dendias and after expressing his solidarity and support for him following the earthquake emphasized that «the Turkey »It is ready to help Greece if necessary.".
Also, the Cavusoglu expressed its full readiness Turkey to immediately support the efforts of the Greek authorities to provide all necessary assistance.
Called FM @NikosDendias of #Greece together with FM @DZalkaliani of #Georgia to express our solidarity in the wake of the earthquake. We stand ready to assist our neighbor if necessary.
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) March 3, 2021
14:41. A church collapsed in Mesochori
The 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Elassona caused property damage and disruption. The Mesochori and the Damasi These are the two villages that sustained significant damage from the earthquake that «struck» Thessaly and had its epicenter in Elassona and Tyrnavos. From the earthquake in Damasi, Elassona A partition wall collapsed at a school but the children had already gone out.
In Mesochori, a church collapsed, and a woman managed to escape from her home at the last moment, while her elderly husband was trapped; she then alerted the authorities to rescue him. The man was found alive and will be taken to the hospital.
1:49 p.m. Lekkas: It was a really big earthquake; people should stay outside
Seismologists are taking a cautious approach to the development of seismic activity in the Elassona. The Professor of Seismology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Costas Papazachos He did not rule out the possibility of a very strong aftershock of the same magnitude as today's 6.0-magnitude earthquake, adding that Several aftershocks will follow. In fact, Mr. Papazachos emphasized that under no circumstances should schools be open tomorrow. He also added that people should be cautious and stay indoors for a few hours. Officials from the relevant department of the Ministry of Infrastructure along with teams of engineers, they are preparing to travel to the area.
The magnitude of today's earthquake in the Elassona area (6 on the Richter scale) is roughly at the upper limit of the earthquakes that occur in that region, said the Manolis Skordilis, professor of seismology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).
«The fault line in the region has caused earthquakes in the past. The most recent one occurred in the 18th century. It was in 1781, with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. Today’s earthquake is roughly at the upper limit of the magnitude of earthquakes that occur in this region,» noted the professor of seismology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. «This is most likely the main earthquake,», Mr. Skordilis noted this and added that «there have also been several aftershocks of considerable magnitude, which is to be expected.» According to the professor of seismology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the largest aftershock—so far—occurred at 12:34 p.m. and measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.
As the Efthymios Lekkas, Professor of Geology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the Organization for Seismic Planning and Protection (OASP) The depth of the earthquake’s epicenter was very shallow (7.8 km, according to the Geodynamic Institute), which is why it was felt throughout Thessaly, Athens, and even as far as the border. Mr. Lekkas recommended that schools in Thessaly remain closed today and that people stay outside their homes for a few hours. According to Mr. Lekkas, it was a very large earthquake. Akis Tselentis, Director of the Geodynamic Institute, also spoke to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) about a very large earthquake. adding that «at this stage, we are monitoring the development of the situation and urging residents in the area to remain vigilant.».
1:21 p.m. Panic in the streets of Larissa following the earthquake – A house collapsed in Mesochori
People in villages and cities have taken to the streets; there is concern due to the ongoing aftershocks. According to larissanet.gr, there is minor structural damage to buildings in the Larissa.
The Fire Department received a call regarding the collapse of a house in Mesochori Elassona, where an elderly man with a disability is trapped. His wife managed to escape the building before it collapsed. A Fire Department team rushed to the scene, and according to the mayor of Elassona, Mr. Nikos Gatsas, the operation to rescue the man was completed shortly after 1:00 p.m. In the Tyrnavos Some unoccupied houses also collapsed.
Reports also mention the collapse of a wall at a school in Damasi Larissa. At the time of the earthquake, there were no students in the school building.
At this time, teams of law enforcement officers are out on the streets conducting checks and patrols throughout the wider area.
13:05
In his remarks, the professor of geophysics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Costas Papazachos, notes that the region will be experiencing a series of aftershocks over the coming months Thessaly.
As the professor said in the ethnos.gr, the focus of earthquake in Tyrnavos It's around a 6 on the Richter scale, and he's the one earthquake because the magnitude is close to the region’s maximum potential. «The aftershock sequence will be extensive. Of course, we’re concerned not only about the present situation and the damage it has caused, but also about what comes next.”. »This story is going to drag on for a long time, and we'll be dealing with aftershocks for months.".
As explained by the Mr. Papachazos, It was a a very strong earthquake and along a well-known fault (the Tirnavos Fault), which has exhausted the seismic potential of that specific location. «It has produced earthquakes of this magnitude on the Richter scale in the past, during ancient geological times, thousands of years ago,» added Mr. Papazachos.
12:53
12:49
Speaking to SKAI, Professor Efthymios Lekkas, president of the OASP, He said that the earthquake «was felt across half the country,» adding that «There was no significant pre-earthquake activity.».
The mayor of Elassona, Nikos Gatsas, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) that he has already ordered investigations into possible damage to all public and municipal buildings, adding in an interview with SKAI that Students and teachers have left the school buildings without incident.
«It was a very intense storm, but I've been all over half the city and we won't have any significant damage,» he added.
12:43
The earthquake drove the residents of Larissa out of their homes. According to reports so far, the earthquake—which was particularly strong in Thessaloniki—has caused serious damage in Elassona.
The quake had a focal depth of 7.8 kilometers, and its epicenter was located 16 kilometers south-southwest of Elassona. Three minutes later, a second strong earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale struck, with its epicenter 7 kilometers west-southwest of Elassona.
12:31
The epicenter is located 24 km northwest of Larissa, 20 km southwest of Elassona and just 10 km from the Tyrnavos. The focal depth is estimated at 5.9 on the Richter scale.
So far, no damage has been reported.
A few minutes later, at 12:19, another earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale struck a few kilometers further north.
More in a moment...
