Greece: Two dead, dozens hurt in earthquake

At least two people died and 90 others were injured when a strong earthquake struck southwestern Greece today.

The quake, measuring 6.5, flattened dozens of homes, authorities said.

It was Greece’s first fatal earthquake since 1999, when a 5.9 magnitude quake near Athens killed 143 people and left thousands homeless.

Today’s quake struck at 3:25pm (1.25pm Irish time) near the port city of Patras, about 120 miles west of Athens in the northwestern Peloponnese, and had a shallow epicentre, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. It was felt as far away as southern Italy.

Two people were killed and 90 were injured, most of them lightly, the Interior Ministry said. By nightfall, six of the injured remained in hospital.

One of the dead was a woman who was lightly injured, but died later in hospital of a heart attack, while the other was a man killed by a falling pergola outside his home in the village of Kato Ahaia.

With dozens of houses destroyed or severely damaged, the government said it would give €3,000 as aid to anyone who had lost their primary home in the quake.

Frequent aftershocks rattled already frightened residents, and seismologists urged caution, particularly around buildings that were damaged in the initial quake.

“We are watching the seismic activity with great attention. We are not yet certain that the danger is completely over,” said Athens Geodynamic Institute director Gerasimos Papadopoulos. Although it was unlikely that there would be a stronger quake, “there is still concern. ... For this reason, and because strong aftershocks are expected, great care must be taken”.

Military rescue helicopters and transport planes, and a specialised Air Force rescue crew were placed on standby, the National Defence General Staff said.

The quake damaged the air traffic control tower of the Andravida military airport, but a secondary tower was being used and the airport remained open, the general staff said.

Two families – seven people in total – were rescued after being trapped in collapsed houses in the village of Fostaina, about 20 miles south of Patras, and in the village of Vartholomio, authorities said.

Television footage showed rescue crews pulling a nine-year-old girl from beneath the rubble of her house in Fostaina after a two-hour rescue effort and placing her on a stretcher. The girl suffered only slight injuries.

“I have seen nothing like that in my lifetime,” an 88-year-old woman in Kato Ahaia, told state-run NET television. “When the earthquake began, I was in bed. I tried to leave but fell down. I crawled on my knees to the front door.” She said neighbours got her out of the house.

Teams of rescuers from 17 Balkan and Mediterranean countries who had just arrived in Greece for a disaster response training exercise joined Greek colleagues in rescue efforts.

Hours after the quake, terrified residents stayed away from their homes, gathering in village squares and outdoor coffee shops. Local authorities cordoned off unsafe buildings in villages, and ordered all schools in the area to remain shut tomorrow.

The Tourism Ministry and Greek tourist board said no damage had been reported in any of the area’s hotels and that no holiday-makers had been hurt.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the damage was relatively light.

“An initial assessment shows we don’t have widespread damage,” the interior minister said. “The consequences of an earthquake of this intensity and at this depth were relatively limited.”

The fire service said a landslide cut off part of the Corinth to Patras highway.

Greece is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, but most quakes cause no injuries.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who is on a three day visit to Vienna, said: “My thoughts in these hours are with our fellow citizens who are suffering,

“Along with sadness for all that has happened and for the loss of lives, I want to stress and underline that the state will be at (their) side.”

Karamanlis was to cut his visit to Austria short by two days and return to Greece tomorrow.

Authorities said they would set up tents for those left homeless and distribute food.