Athens shaken by a 5.1 Richter earthquake

Initial reports were for 5.3 Richter - The epicenter of the earthquake was on the rear side of the Atalanti rift, Professor Efthimios Lekkas tells protothema.gr - The epicenter was located in the region of Amfiklia

According to the initial estimate of the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Institute an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale occurred at 12:06 noon Wednesday close to city of Lamia.

According to initial data the epicenter was located 10 km. southeast of Lamia and 120 km northwest of Athens. The focal depth was estimated at 10km.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Institute, seven minutes earlier, at 12:02 pm, there was an earthquake of 4.1 on the Richter scale.

According to the initial information from the Police Department of Lamia, local authorities recorded rockfall in the area where the epicenter of the two earthquakes was located but with no reports for damages.

According to Efthimios Lekkas, Geology Professor of the University of Athens, who spoke at protothema.gr, the earthquake came from the rear side of the Atalante rift between the mountains of Parnassus and Chlomo. Lekkas said it was strange that the main event was preceded by an earthquake of 4.1 on the Richter scale, speaking og an abvious pre-earthquake and therefore asked for close monitoring during the first hours of the phenomenon. He added that this rift has not given a major earthquake for a while now, but can produce one of 5.3 Richter.

The residents in Lamia are upset as Lamia mayor George Kotronias told protothema.gr, adding that the only damage referencport so far is for an old house in the Drimea village. According to Kotronias there were landslides on the Lamia-Bralos-Itea road.

Similar picture of unrest prevails in Amfiklia as city mayor Theodoris Douros told protothema.gr, adding that the people are waiting for information on whether they can return to their homes. According to Douros there are no reports of injuries or damages in his district.