Leslee
Strong Earthquake Hits Greece
The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 25, 2001; 9:58 p.m. EDT
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010725/aponline215813_000.htm
ATHENS, Greece -- A powerful earthquake shook wide areas of Greece on
Thursday, sending residents of Athens and some other cities into open
areas. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The quake, which occurred about 3:15 a.m., had a preliminary magnitude
of 5.7 with an epicenter near the Aegean Sea island of Skyros, about 85
miles northwest of Athens, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.
The quake hit hours after a 4.4 magnitude temblor occurred just north of
the island, which has about 3,000 permanent residents and about the same
number of summer tourists.
Giorgos Stathis, deputy mayor of Skyros, said there was no immediate
sign of casualties.
"But for sure some houses will be damaged. There are patrols of police
and other services already out on the streets," he said.
The quake was felt over a wide stretch of the country - from the central
Aegean to the mountains of southern Greece, media reports said. A series
of aftershocks also rattled the region.
The last major quake to hit Greece was a 5.9 magnitude temblor on Sept.
7, 1999 that claimed 143 lives.