Two M6 earthquakes in Cephalonia, Greece within 8 days
Last update: 2 June 2014 at 09:35 UTC
Earthquake details | Aftershocks locations | Intensity map
Comments posted by the witnesses | Send us pictures or videos | Epicenter location
Earthquakes' details
Eight days after the first M6.1 earthquake that hit the region of Argostólion, Cephalonia, Western Greece on January 26th, 2014 at 13:55 UTC (15:55 local time), a second M6.0 earthquake hit this region on February 3rd, at 03:08 UTC (05:08 local time).
Since the first shock, numerous aftershocks have been recorded. In 9 days, 434 M3+ earthquakes, 51 M4+ earthquakes, and 3 M5+ earthquakes have been recorded in this sequence.
These two M6 earthquakes occurred in the same island as the destructive events of 1953. Between August 9th and 12th of 1953, three earthquakes of magnitude 6.4, 6.8 and 7.2 took place in Cephalonia leading to hundreds of casualties and strong damages all over the island, but also in Zante and Ithaca. In the following months, 80% of the population left the island.
The 2014 earthquakes' sequence has led to important damages in the area.
Scientific articles:
- Field observations of geological effects triggered by the January-February 2014 Cephalonia earthquakes by A. Ganas et al. (National Observatory of Athens)
Read more:
- http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/01/28/kefalonia-earthquake-locals-fear-1953-catastrophe-may-happen-again/
- http://www.allkefalonia.com/cu-earthquake.html
- about the 1953 events: Stiros et al. (1994)
- http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/02/09/cephalonia-residents-still-suffering/
>> M6.1 of January 26th
If you have experienced this earthquake, please answer the online questionnaire. Your testimony will be useful to update the Intensity map here below, where intensities correspond to the effects of the earthquake.
A local news website, reported some damage on roads and buildings in the towns of Lixouri and Argostoli. There have been some slight injuries from falls, and falling objects inside apartments. Local media reported several rock falls as well as damages to the local airport's control tower.
- More details can be found here: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/58-magnitude-quake-hits-greek-island
- Pictures and videos of the damages are available at: http://www.zougla.gr/greece/article/sismos-57r-stin-kefalonia (in greek)
- More photos on the facebook page of the media center Kefalonia
- More videos are available on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2al9nbRSVFg , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0mC-uZR8Lw , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot1Z_RMD51I
Information on the geodetic signature of this event is available here.
>> M6.0 of February 03rd
If you have experienced this earthquake, please answer the online questionnaire. Your testimony will be useful to update the Intensity map here below, where intensities correspond to the effects of the earthquake.
News online reported power and water cuts along with several injuries. People remain off their homes, welcomed on board ships sent for this purpose. Bad weather conditions are observed.
- Preliminary report by ITSAK (in Greek)
Aftershocks locations
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Citizen seismology
The graph below shows the EMSC web traffic during the last two weeks originating from Greece. The web users location is identified thanks to their IP address. The Cephalonia events (in red) are clearly related to web access surges.
The method: The EMSC has developed an original approach named Citizen Seismology: on one hand, when an earthquake occurs, witnesses visit EMSC website to look for further explanation of the event. By identifying the geographical origin of the website’s visitors, the area where the earthquake was felt is mapped within a couple of minutes of its occurrence. On the other hand, EMSC involves citizens in earthquake response by collecting in-situ information (questionnaires, pictures…) on the earthquake impact directly from the witnesses. Consequently, these developments provide rapid constraints on the earthquake impact by involving the citizens in the response and draw an efficient way to raise seismic risk awareness.
Intensity maps
A total of 1094 witness' reports were collected by the EMSC for the Cephalonia sequence.
(click to enlarge)
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M6.1 of January 26th |
M6.1 of January 26th |
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M6.0 of February 3rd |
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Comments posted by the witnesses (of January 26th M6.1 event)
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M6.1 January 26th Comments excerpts
- 7km away from the epicenter: "It felt like a powerful jerking motion from side to side during the main earthquake, but the aftershocks felt like the earth was jumping up and down. We have had what seems to be over 100 constant tremors since yesterdays main earthquake, making it difficult to sleep during the night."
- 22km away from the epicenter: "People left their houses and gathered together. Because of the big earthquake in 1953 people were extremely aware of what could happen. The power also went out so we had no communications. We went to the supermarket and the shelves were down, things were smashed and windows were broken. We spent a few hours with friends on higher ground. It was very frightening."
- 52km away from the epicenter: "we have been in many earthquakes, but this felt the worst. the swaying movement was bad, like being on a ship on the ocean. most earthquakes we have been in give loud rumbling noises followed by bangs & drops."
- 168km away from the epicenter: "Living in apartment at the fourth floor and the lights and mirrors were moving for at least 2 minutes."
Send us pictures or videos
You were on the spot and you have taken photos or videos of earthquake effects (on buildings, ground, landscape), please send us your files. Send them by mail or upload them directly from your computer. Just click on the link below :
>> M6.1 of January 26th
Send us pictures or videos of the main shock effects
After validation your files will be displayed on this page.
>> M6.O of February 03th
Send us pictures or videos of the main shock effects
After validation your files will be displayed on this page.
Epicenter location
>> M6.1 of January 26th
 Main Shock Epicenter Location |
 Past Regional Seismicity as from the ISC catalogue (1964-2004) and EMSC Real Time catalogue (2005-today) |
 Moment Tensors Solutions |
>> M6.0 of February 03rd
 Main Shock Epicenter Location |
 Moment Tensors Solutions |