The Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos, otherwise known as Zante, has been permanently moved by at least 3.0 cm to the southwest following the strong undersea quake overnight measuring 6.4 – 6.5 on the Richter scale that hit last Friday 25 October.
The island was declared in a state of emergency and the movement was felt all the way to Athens, Italy, Albania and Libya. The epicentre was 50 kilometres off the island’s coast at a depth of 10 kilometres.
According to research director Dr. Athanassios Ganas at the Geodynamics Institute of the Athens National Observatory “this conclusion was reached after the digital processing and analysis of radar-images taken by the EU and ESA satellite Sentinel-1 of the Copernicus service, which reflect the surface deformation on Zakynthos”.
“The movement is mostly observed on a horizontal level, while no vertical movement has been observed and scientists are currently examining if the quake has caused other movements in the surrounding region,” he told told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) on yesterday, explaining that scientists are also trying to determine if other nearby land masses were moved by the quake.
Meanwhile, seismologists predict another quake or even a tsunami is likely follow in the coming days.
Even though no serious damage or injuries were reported and residents avoided a tsunami after the main tremor, they are experiencing several aftershocks a day.
The earthquake caused minor damages to buildings and roads; the island’s port and a 15th century monastery were also damaged.
