Greek Earth Always Trembling

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 13

Greek Earth Always Trembling

f.V.ZP. A.-Reuter — Copyright) ATHENS. The earth of Greece is constantly trembling. Thefe is hardly an area anywhere on the mainland or on the islands which at some time during the last century has not been shaken by disastrous tremors. Recent earthquakes, tn Evritana, in central Greece,

have given rice to a sharp controversy between scholars. These tremors are the latest in the long series. The town of Corinth was entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1928. Tremors shook the Chalcidice peninsula in northern Greece in the early 1930’5. Almost entire towns, like Argostolion and Zante, crumbled as a result of violent eathquakes which hit the lonian islands in 1953. The Aegean island of Santorini has been repeatedly shaken by tremors during the last 50 years, while southern Greece twice suffered shocks two years ago and the three

Sporades islands of Skyros, Skopelos and Alonlssos suffered tremors last year. The most recent of this continuous series of earthquakes has its epicentre in the district of Acharnania and Evritania, in central Greece. In Evritania, hundreds of houses in more than 40 of the 87 communities in the district collapsed or were badly damaged on February 5 this year. The earthquake’s epicentre was located there by the Athens Observatory. It was of a strength of 6.75 on the Richter scale. More than 12,000 inhabitants of the district were left homeless as a result of the tremor, according to the Ministry of Social Welfare. Most of the villages affected by this shock are perched on the slopes of Mount Tymphrystos or Mount Agrafon, at altitudes of between 4000 and 6000 ft.

Because the same areas suffered destructive landslides two years ago, the Government is considering the “removal" of its population to other districts. But, in spite of nature’s threat and the barren, rocky land which gives them only a miserable living, these proud mountaineers are reluctant to be transferred to newly-built communities where they will be able to live in safety and greater comfort. While scientists have been able to establish beyond doubt the reason for the earthquakes registered in Other parts of Greece, there have been allegations that the tremors in Evritania have been caused by the construction of a 20,000-acre artificial lake. Mr Galanopoulos, professor of seismology and director of the geodynamic institute of the Athens Observatory, claims that the institute has “convincing scientific proof

that there is a dynamic relation” between the tremors in Evritania and the increasing pressure of the waters of the lake formed by the dam built over the river Acheloos. This lake, at Kremasta, was created by the construction of a 490-foot high dam, which is considered to be an achievement of the first magnitude for the development of Greece’s national economy. Its hydro-electric power station will provide 437,000 kilowatts of electricity for the benefit of the country’s industry, including the processing of bauxite to produce 72,500 tons of aluminium a year.

According to Professor Galanopoulos, the seismological station on the island of Cephalonia registered a series of earthquakes with their epicentre in Evritania between October, 1965, and February, 1966. “The tremors,” he added, “became more frequent as the level of the water rose in the Kremasta lake.” The views of Professor Galanopoulos are challenged by Mr Melentis, a geologist, of Athens University. “The earthquake which shook the Evritania province on February 5 has nothing to do with the lake of Kremasta,” he asserts. Mr N. Demopoulos, directorgeneral of the Public Power Corporation which built the dam at Kremasta, also disconnects the views of Professor Galanopoulos. “There is no question of pressure by the water of the lake causing the earthquakes in the nearby area of Evritania,” he said, adding that this view was supported by United States experts in regard to the Hoover dam which is 660 feet high and holds back a lake eight times as large as that at Kremasta.