2008 Dodecanese earthquake

2008 Dodecanese earthquake
Date 15 July 2008
Magnitude 6.4 Mw (USGS),[1] 6.2 (GINOA)[2]
Depth 68 km
Epicenter near Kattavia, Rhodes
Areas affected Greece
Casualties 1 [3][4]

The 2008 Dodecanese earthquake occurred near Kattavia on the island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on 15 July. The quake struck at 06:26 a.m. local time (GMT+3) and one woman was killed when she slipped and fell as she tried to flee her home.[3] However, the earthquake did not cause any major damage.[3][5] The earthquake was felt across the entire eastern Mediterranean, as far west as Libya, and inland as far as Damascus.[4]

There was a significant aftershock the next day, 16 July, at 02:52 a.m. local time, which resulted in additional injuries.[6] The aftershock was rated between 4.8 Mw[7] and 5.0 Mw.[8]

There is not unanimity on the location of the epicenter. The USGS places the epicenter at 35°58′59″N 27°47′06″E / 35.983°N 27.785°E which is under the island of Rhodes about 3.4 kilometers northeast of Kattavia; while the Athens Institute of Geodynamics coordinates (35°51′N 27°55′E / 35.85°N 27.92°E) place the epicenter 19 km southeast of Kattavia which is off the island, under the seabed.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Magnitude 6.4 Dodecanese Islands, Greece" Preliminary Earthquake Report, Earthquake Hazards program, United States Geological Survey. Accessed: 29 July 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Seismicity Catalogs" for 15 July 2008 3:26 GMT, Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory of Athens. Accessed: 29 July 2008.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Rhodes Quake Kills One". E-Kathimerini. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "M 6.4 - Dodecanese Islands, Greece" PACER system, Earthquake Hazards program, United States Geological Survey. Accessed: 29 July 2008.
  5. ↑ Staff (15 July 2008) "Strong earthquake hits Greek island of Rhodes" Belfast Telegraph. Accessed: 23 August 2008.
  6. ↑ "Earthquake strikes Greek island of Rhodes; no damage, injuries reported" International Herald Tribune. Accessed: 29 July 2008.
  7. ↑ "Seismicity Catalogs" for 15 July 2008 23:52 GMT, Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory of Athens. Accessed: 29 July 2008.
  8. ↑ "Magnitude 5.0 Dodecanese Islands, Greece" Preliminary Earthquake Report, Earthquake Hazards program, United States Geological Survey. Accessed: 29 July 2008. Archived June 12, 2011 at the Wayback Machine