Greece: Damages and road travel disruptions reported following magnitude-6.3 earthquake in central Greece, March 3 /update 1

Event

Several structures have partially collapsed in central Greece March 3 in the wake of the earlier magnitude-6.3 earthquake. The damaged buildings include a school in Vlachogianni, and several houses in the municipality of Tyrnavos. Damage has also been reported to several older church buildings. Landslides have resulted in some road travel disruptions in Kastraki, as well as on the Larissa-Elassona National Road. Additionally, telecommunications disruptions have been reported in the city of Volos and the wider Magnesia Prefecture. Unconfirmed reports indicate some injuries have occurred in Larissa, Damasi, and Vlachogianni.

There have been only been minor reports of damages at this time; however, significant damage is possible especially near the epicenter in central Greece. The tremor took place at 1216 and the epicenter was approximately 10 km (6 miles) west-northwest of Tyrnavos, Greece. The tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 10 km (6 miles), and moderate-to-strong shaking was felt in central Greece, near the epicenter. Weak-to-light shaking was felt across southeastern Europe, including Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, western Bulgaria, southern Montenegro, Kosovo, southern Serbia, and far southeastern Italy. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Additional aftershocks are likely to occur over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if officials find no damage. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.