’Quake Strikes Greece

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 13

’Quake Strikes Greece

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter —Copyright) ATHENS, Feb. 6. Hundreds of families shivered in straw huts, tents and rough shelters in below freezing temperatures last night after a predawn earthquake flattened their homes in Karpension, Greece. Others, the lucky ones, bedded down in draughty schoolrooms and churches. The earthquake struck the Evritania area in central Greece, and about 1000 houses in 10 villages were destroyed or made uninhabitable. One woman, a 30-year-old mother of six, died beneath the debris of her home. Twelve villagers were injured and many others needed treatment A total of 4000 were estimated to be homeless.

King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie later flew into the area to help comfort the villagers. The young Royal couple today will visit devastated villages on the snow-capped slopes of Mount Timfristos and Mount Panaitolikon. Troops Called In The Government declared a state of emergency and sent troops and rescue teams to aid the panic-stricken villagers. Not one house among the 750 in four villages was left standing, according to the Social Welfare Minister, Mr Michael Galinos.

The earthquake registered 6.4 points on the Richter scale, its epicentre being 118

miles north-west of Karpension, the Athens observatory said.

The smaller detectable earthquake registers on the Richter scale under three and the largest at about 8.6. Evritania is one of the most mountainous areas of Greece. Its people rely on a livestock economy and rear mainly sheep and goats.