Greece: a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the western Peloponnese region

On Friday 29^th of March morning, the western Peloponnese region in southern Greece experienced a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. The epicenter of the quake was close to the Strofades islands while it was felt across vast distances, such as Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Agrinio, and various parts of the Peloponnese, reaching as far as Athens and Crete. As of present, there have been no reports of injuries or property damage because of this incident.

Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said, during his interview, that definitive conclusions regarding the seismic activity must be examined with caution, emphasizing the need for further investigation to determine if this event is the primary earthquake. Moreover, Efthymios Lekkas, the president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), underscored the significance of this seismic event, characterized by substantial focal depth. He also noted that despite the intensity of the earthquake's effects, minimal impact has appeared on infrastructure.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised by Greek scientists Konstantinos Synolakis and Costas Papazachos, in interviews conducted early in 2023. They had highlighted the historical precedent of seismic activity in the region. The scientist had also argued the possibility of Greece to face a large-scale earthquake like those that have devastated regions in Turkey and Syria.

It should be mentioned that Greece is situated within a highly active seismic zone, and thus the country experiences numerous earthquakes, with the majority causing no significant harm. Specifically, Greece is in a complex zone in the eastern Mediterranean, while it is between the African and Eurasian Plates. The northern part of Greece rests upon the Eurasian Plate and its southern part lies atop the Aegean Sea Plate. The Aegean Sea Plate is slowly drifting southwestward relative to the Eurasian Plate, while the African Plate converges northward, slipping beneath the Aegean Sea Plate at a rate of approximately 40mm per year.