2021 Larissa earthquake

2021 Larissa earthquake
2021 Larissa earthquake is located in Greece
2021 Larissa earthquake
UTC time2021-03-03 10:16:09
ISC event619907234
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateMarch 3, 2021
Local time12:16:09 EET
Magnitude6.3 Mw
Depth8.0 km (5.0 mi)
Epicenter39°40′30″N 22°52′34″E / 39.675°N 22.876°E / 39.675; 22.876
Areas affectedGreece, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia
Max. intensityMMI VIII (Severe)
LandslidesYes
Aftershocks5.8 Mw[1]
Casualties1 dead, 11 injured[2]

On March 3, 2021, 12:16:09 (UTC +2) the 2021 Larissa earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3 Mw with an intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli Scale 9 kilometers west of Týrnavos, Greece.[2] One person was confirmed dead with eleven other people injured.[3] Light shaking was also felt as far as Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro.[4]

Earthquake

Modified Mercalli intensities in selected locations[5]
MMI Locations Population exposure
MMI VIII (Severe) Mesochori 1,000
MMI VII (Very strong) Larissa 124,000
MMI VI (Strong) Trikala 142,000
MMI V (Moderate) Karditsa 175,000
MMI IV (Light) Patras 1.08 million

The earthquake was recorded as a magnitude 6.3 earthquake by the United States Geological Survey, while the Institute of Geodynamics in Athens recorded it as a magnitude 6.0 earthquake.[6]

Seismological events are quite common in Greece. In 2020 a 7.0 earthquake rattled the Aegean Sea killing at least 119 people (Two in Greece). In 1999 an earthquake occurred near the capital Athens, killing more than 100 people.

Aftershocks

There were numerous aftershocks following the mainshock, the strongest of which was a magnitude 5.8 that occurred 11 km East of Verdikoussa that further worsened already severely damaged houses and other infrastructure.[7][8]

Casualties

There were numerous reports of damage mostly along Central Greece including old churches and infrastructure, several buildings and houses, one of them was a primary school built in 1938 as well as 63 students that were attending classes in the village of Damasi. There were also power interruptions in the City of Volos and the entire Magnesia Prefecture and travel disruptions between numerous towns due to landslides.[9][10]

The body of an elderly man was found under the rubble of his own home by rescue teams, and eleven other people sustained injuries.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "M 5.8 – 11 km E of Verdikoússa, Greece". USGS-ANSS. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "M 6.3 – 9 km W of Týrnavos, Greece". USGS-ANSS. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Σεισμός – Ελασσόνα : Πέθανε ο ηλικιωμένος που είχε απεγκλωβιστεί από το σπίτι του". TA NEA.
  4. ^ "Strong Earthquake Shakes Central Greece, Felt in Balkans | Voice of America – English". voanews.com. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  5. ^ "PAGER". United States Geological Survey. 2022-02-25. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  6. ^ "6.3-magnitude earthquake hits central Greece". France 24. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  7. ^ "M 5.8 – 11 km E of Verdikoússa, Greece". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  8. ^ "Greece: 'Surprise' Aftershock Adds Damage to Quake-Hit Area". Archived from the original on 2021-08-15.
  9. ^ "Greece: Damages and road travel disruptions reported following magnitude-6.3 earthquake in central Greece, March 3 /update 1". GardaWorld. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  10. ^ "Thousands in Greece spend night outdoors after powerful earthquake". Los Angeles Times. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-08-30.