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| Date | 12 August 1953 09:24(UTC) |
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| Magnitude | 7.2 Ms[1] |
| Countries or regions | Greece, Kefalonia and Zakynthos |
| Casualties | 476 |
The Great 1953 Ionian Earthquake struck the southern Ionian Islands in Greece on August 12, 1953. In mid-August 1953, beginning on 8 August there were over 113 recorded earthquakes in the region between Kefalonia and Zakynthos, but the most destructive was the earthquake of August 12th. That earthquake measured 7.2 on the surface wave magnitude scale and caused widespread damage throughout the islands of Kefalonia and Zakynthos.[1][2]
The quake struck at 09:24 (UTC) or 11:24 (local time). HMS Gambia and HMS Bermuda were among the first on the scene. In addition, four Israeli warships received S.O.S. signals coming from the Island of Kefalonia and the ships headed to the island. The sailors provided emergency medical aid, food and water. This was the first time Israel provided aid to a disaster-stricken area.
The earthquake is generally known as the great Kefalonia Earthquake; yet in the capital of Zakynthos too, only two buildings survived the earthquake and the rest of the island's capital had to be rebuilt. Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, suffered substantial damage and the whole of Kefalonia except for Fiskardo in the far north was flattened.
As well as causing major destruction on the two islands, the economic impact of the earthquake was far greater, and damage was estimated to have totaled billions of Drachmas. Many people fled the island after the earthquake, leaving both the islands and their economy in ruins.
Earthquakes still regularly shake the islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia, including several 2006 earthquakes at Zakynthos and others in 2003 and 2005, respectively.