Seismologists warn large aftershock expected in Greece

"The next two to three 24-hour periods remain critical," said Giorgos Stavrakakis, head of the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

 

The quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, struck on Sunday afternoon near the western port city of Patras, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) west of Athens, the institute said.

 

It flattened about 70 houses in the provinces of Ahaia and Ilia, severely damaged another 30 and left 230 more with damage and cracks that need investigating by engineers to determine if they are safe, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

 

Dozens of aftershocks have rattled the area in the hours since the quake, but all have been relatively small, with preliminary magnitudes below 4.7, the Geodynamic Institute said. Â

 

A strong aftershock of a magnitude of about 5 or 5.5 was still expected in the coming days, or possibly weeks, seismologist Giannis Kalogeras said.

 

"An earthquake of 6.5 in western Greece has a rich post-seismic activity," he said. "An earthquake of 5 or 5.5 is expected. That is based on our experience of the region."

 

Seismologists warned people in the area not to approach damaged buildings, to stay calm and to heed instructions by authorities.

 

The Interior Ministry said that by Monday morning, 147 people had sought medical treatment for injuries sustained during the quake. Of those, 16 remained hospitalized and the rest had been treated and released, it said.

 

Tents had been set up for those left homeless, although few were used as most people took refuge with friends and family whose houses had not been damaged, the ministry said.

 

The government has pledged to give aid of about $4,680 to those whose primary residence was destroyed by the quake. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was cutting short a visit to Austria to return to Athens on Monday.

 

Photo: Reuters