A recent flurry of minor earthquakes across the western part of the Attica basin in Greece has raised some concern about whether they might be a precursor to larger earthquakes. Professor Lekkas, however, put these concerns to rest in an interview on public broadcaster ERT.
Speaking to ERT, Professor Efthymios Lekkas, the head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, explained that the string of small quakes, a total of 15, with the largest registering 2.7 on the Richter scale, were centered around the towns of Mandra and Elefsina and have been attributed to seismic activity on the western edge of the Fyli or Parnitha fault line.
The professor clarified that this current activity stems from the westernmost section of the Fyli or Parnitha fault. He recalled that the devastating 1999 earthquake occurred in the fault’s eastern segment, while a 5.3 magnitude quake in 2019 struck the central portion. “Now, the activity is focused on the western tip—essentially the end of the fault,” he explained.
Lekkas continued saying that despite their small size, they were felt by residents in Western Attica and even in central Athens.
Professor Lekkas reassured the public that this part of the fault does not have the potential to generate significant earthquakes in Greece. “We estimate this section could perhaps produce a slightly stronger quake—around 3.5 on the Richter scale—but it has long since exhausted its potential to generate a major earthquake that would be cause for serious concern,” Lekkas noted. He concluded that there was no reason for alarm following last night’s seismic activity.
