Strong and shallow M6.3 earthquake hits Thessaly, Greece

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit Grece at 10:16 UTC on March 3, 2021. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC initially reported M6.9 and later downgraded it to M6.3 at a depth of 10 km.

The epicenter was located 10 km (6.3 miles) WNW of Týrnavos (population 10 796), 25 km (15.7 miles) NW of Lárisa (population 144 651), and 25 km (15.6 miles) ENE of Trikala (population 61 653), Thessaly, Greece.

There are bout 1 290 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).

22 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 215 000 strong, 262 000 moderate, and 2 991 000 light.

The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and Yellow for economic losses.

Some damage is possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Greece. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall with wood and unreinforced brick with mud construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

Numerous aftershocks are still shaking the area and experts say they can't rule out stronger quakes.

All schools across the Municipality of Larissa were closed after the quake.

Search and rescue crews have been deployed after numerous houses collapsed or sustained heavy damage.

The bridge in Damasi was closed after inspections confirmed serious damage.

The Office of Civil Protection is urging residents to stay out of buildings and be especially careful.

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Regional seismicity

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google