A new strong earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale occurred on Crete earlier this morning at 07:48.
According to the automatic recording of the Geodynamic Institute, the epicentre of the earthquake was again Arkalochori, where an earthquake of 5.8 Richter was recorded yesterday as well.
The tremor was felt as far as Heraklion. According to the automatic recording of the Geodynamic Institute, the quake had a focal depth of 13.9 km and an epicentre 22 km southeast of Heraklion, Crete.
Last night was particularly difficult for the residents of Arkalochori, many of whom spent the night in tents that were set up yesterday at the Exhibition Centre of the area, far from their homes. 80 tents, each with a capacity of 20 people, were set up in the area yesterday, and more are expected to be brought in today.
According to Chrysoula Mathianaki Gkegkeroglou, president of the municipal community, 80% of the houses in Arkalochori have been seriously damaged: “I was at home at the time. What we experience was absolutely horrifying. Fortunately the earthquake hit in the morning and not at night, when all the people are at home. Then things would have certainly been worse. Unfortunately, 80% of the houses in Arkalochori are destroyed and we are talking about a place of 4,800 inhabitants.
My own house, although new, is uninhabitable at the moment. If, as the experts say, there are aftershocks of magnitude 5.5, then everything that is now crumbling will be completely destroyed. We recommend staying calm and advise people not to go home.”
