Samos: Difficult night for the neighbors, they count damages and mourn the two dead students

Samos measures his injuries after the deadly earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale that struck the island. According to the Institute of Geodynamics, the epicenter was 19 kilometers north, northwest of Samos, with a focal depth of the first 10 kilometers.

Two children, aged 17 and 15, respectively, died from the vibration, while nine people are being treated. Old building collapses were also recorded, while damage was also recorded at Vathi harbor.

It was shortly before 2:00 PM on Friday that there was a strong 6.7 Richter earthquake that struck Samos and was felt throughout Greece. In fact, the severity of the earthquake caused the postponement to Sunday of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s speech for the new measures, as well as the established information on the coronavirus.

However, the epicenter was reported below the floor of the Pacific Ocean; no tsunami warning was issued. They lost their lives.

How will the neighbors spend the night?

Samos mourns his two children and tries to pick up their pieces from the incredible damage caused by the earthquake itself, as well as the three small tsunamis that followed and caused severe damage to Vathi.

At the same time, the “dance” of earthquakes annoys residents, many of whom will be invited to spend the night in their cars, in streets, parks and squares.

Seismologists warn that the Samos area will be in Richter’s “dance” for several days, with many potentially dangerous aftershocks hitting the island, further overloading buildings, even those that haven’t suffered serious damage. Strong aftershocks also in turn cause a tsunami like the one that flooded Vathi.

According to information from Civil Protection and the Fire Department, tonight the neighbors will stay in the homes and cars of relatives and, if attended on time, in hotels and accommodations on the island. Furthermore, according to the information, a Navy barge was recruited to accommodate residents who are unable to return home.

In the event that residents do not have to stay at home, they will be transferred to hotels and rooms to rent or to tents in compliance with the COVID-19 regulations.

In addition, the West Samos City Hall will remain open throughout the night where you can attend and report your problems to the telephone number 22733 50801.

The municipality has defined as meeting points for the victims of the earthquake:

1. the Municipal Stadium of Karlovasi
2. Parking (behind the HATZIKOSTA supermarket near the Liberi building).

Tents will be set up in these areas for the safe accommodation of residents whose homes have been damaged.

We ask the entire population to avoid spending the night inside their houses and to be taken to open spaces or even to cars, away from buildings to avoid the fall of dangerous materials or the collapse of buildings.

We call everyone’s attention, especially for the next few hours when there is the possibility of earthquakes. Unnecessary transport with vehicles involves dangers and complicates the work of workshops.

Many strong earthquakes are expected

All seismologists agree that earthquakes of this magnitude, even at such shallow depths, tend to cause frequent and strong aftershocks.

“It had a very small focal depth of 10 kilometers and this worries me because we will definitely have a very rich aftershock sequence with very large aftershocks,” said Akis Tselentis, director of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens.

We are talking about an earthquake of the order of 7, one of the biggest earthquakes we have experienced in recent years in Greece. However, it is practically impossible for a magnitude 7 earthquake not to have a rich sequence with important aftershocks that can reach magnitude 6 ”, says Costas Papazachos, a seismologist.

The seismologists point out that the earthquake did not surprise them, since the fault from which it originated is known and has returned to produce large earthquakes.

“It is not necessary for all strong earthquakes to have the same sequence. I think this will clear up after a day or two,” said Vassilis Karakostas, professor of seismology at AUTh.

Two dead children

Two children aged 17 and 15, according to the first information from Civil Protection, were taken dead from some ruins in Vathi de Samos.

The two boys were heading towards the beach and passing through a narrow alley in the Gefyraki area on Kanari Street when a building wall fell.

Despite the efforts of the Fire Brigade and EKAB rescuers to rescue them alive, they unfortunately did not succeed.

In fact, a hobbyist camera recorded the desperate efforts of the Firefighters to pull the children out of the rubble.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Niki Kerameos, as well as the leaders of the opposition parties, expressed their condolences for this tragic event.

Nine injured in the hospital of Samos – Air transport for a young man of 14 and 63 years

Two dead and 9 injured were left behind by the deadly earthquake that struck Samos at noon.

A 14-year-old boy with severe fractures will be transported by C-130 helicopter to the Athens General Hospital “Panagioti & Aglaias Kyriakou”. A 63-year-old woman with a broken cheekbone and a partial ruptured spleen will also be airlifted to Attica KAT General Hospital.

At Samos Hospital there are 7 injured, all out of danger.

After the Egelados attack, a total of 10 citizens were transferred to the Karlovasos Health Center. They received first aid and returned to their homes.

All sanitary units remain in maximum availability.

The fifteen seconds of horror

According to the Geodynamic Institute analysis, the earthquake lasted 15 seconds and was felt from Crete to Athens and from the Aegean islands to Thessaly.

The epicenter is located north of Samos in a maritime area and the focal depth according to the first information is about 2 kilometers, that is, it is a surface earthquake.

The earthquake was particularly felt in Attica, which “danced” to the rhythm of Egelados. It appears to have been the main earthquake, but scientists say there will be many aftershocks.

According to the Geodynamic Institute’s analysis, the earthquake lasted 15 seconds and was felt from Crete to Athens and from the Aegean islands to Thessaly.

Seismologists say the earthquake may have been higher than 6.7 on the Richter scale: the Euro-Mediterranean Institute updated its visa to 7 on the Richter scale, and seismology professor Costas Papazahos said the same.

Three small tsunamis hit the island

The sea literally washed ashore, as the three tidal waves that hit Samos shortly after the earthquake caused equally severe damage with the earthquake. Stores and houses have been flooded and the Fire Department constantly receives calls to pump water.

The island’s port has suffered extensive damage, and authorities are rushing to evacuate people from the area as sea levels rise. Biblical is the destruction in all the businesses near the port, since the water took everything, with the businessmen speaking of total destruction.

Damages in the Vathi port of Samos appear to be significant due to the strong seismic vibration, as the first images recorded by the engineers of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport show.

The experts from the first moment ask the neighbors to stay away from the coasts, especially in the north of the island.

The secretary general sent a message to the island’s inhabitants through 112. Civil Protection with Tsunami Alert.

Disasters in Samos

The Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, from the island where he has been since the afternoon, spoke about the disasters left by the earthquake in Samos.

“Obviously the infrastructure has been damaged.” We have to register them and do what the protocol says and implement the general plan that is applied in these cases, “said the Undersecretary of Civil Protection.

Collapses of old and new buildings, damage to cars and damage to shops and streets led to the “coup” of Egelados.

Much of the historic Panagia Theotokou church in Karlovasi collapsed.

In the beautiful church of Agios Nikolaos, the bell tower partially collapsed.

There were cracks in several buildings.

The damage to tanneries in Karlovasi and other areas of Samos is great, and the photos show the scale of the disaster.

For several hours, power was cut off in many areas.

Authorities urge residents not to be near very old buildings to avoid injury from landslides.

Contact Mitsotaki – Erdogan

The earthquake that struck Samos also severely affected Izmir, Turkey, and local authorities in the neighboring country said 12 people were killed and 409 injured.

Against this background, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hastily communicated.

As he disclosed, in a post on Twitter, Mr. Mitsotakis called the Turkish President to convey his condolences for the earthquake that struck the two countries.

“Despite our differences, these are the times when our people must stand together,” he wrote.

I just called the president @RTErdogan to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life caused by the earthquake that struck our two countries. Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to be united.

– Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) October 30, 2020

A little later, with a statement from the representative of the Turkish president’s office, it was stressed that the tragedy showed how close the two countries are.

“President Erdogan has instructed all relevant government agencies to contribute to the rescue effort. We pray that there is no further loss of life in Turkey or Greece and we send our deepest condolences to all those affected in both countries. This tragedy It reminds us once again how close we are despite our political differences. We are ready to help if Greece needs it, “said Fahrettin Altun, spokesman for President Erdogan.

Indeed, the Turkish president returned by retweeting Mitsotakis’s post about the earthquake, who wrote, among other things: “Whatever our differences, these are the times when our people must stand together.”

He first thanked Kyriakos Mitsotakis and sent his condolences to all of Greece on behalf of himself and the Turkish people.

“Turkey is also always ready to help Greece heal its wounds.” The fact that two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life, “Erdogan said.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

I offer my condolences to all of Greece on behalf of myself and the Turkish people. Turkey is also always ready to help Greece heal its wounds.

That two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life. https://t.co/eo6iClofKZ

– Recep Tayyip Erdogan (@RTErdogan) October 30, 2020