A permanent ad hoc scientific committee on seismic risk assessment and seismic risk mitigation OASP is on alert to assess seismic activity across the country. Four areas were placed under the Commission’s microscope, namely Lesvos, Crete, Euboea and Thebeswhere there have been earthquakes lately, the main ones on Lesvos in the last week.

OASP President and Commission Chairman Prof. Efthymis Lekkas told the Athens-Macedonian news agency that the phenomenon is on the wane in Evia and Thebes, but in Lesvos the context is more complex, both tectonic and seismic. “Lesbos has a post-seismic stratum located in a certain area. In any case, it does not appear that seismic activity is being transmitted to other faults nearby that have been active in the past and are associated with large earthquakes,” said Mr. Lekkas at APE-MPE.

According to the unanimous conclusion of the commission, convened on Thursday, January 12, seismic activity in Crete does not bother the members of the commission, since the seismic risk in the east of Crete, according to available data, is still extremely small. As for Evia and Thebes, as Mr. Lekkas noted, the phenomenon is declining and there is no cause for concern, but the latest data is constantly being recorded and evaluated.

In addition, as Mr. Lekkas pointed out, the seismic activity observed in scattered areas of Greece in the past few days is just a coincidence. It’s the unique relationship they have with each other.

Role of the Seismic Risk Assessment Committee

The role of the Scientific Committee on Seismic Risk Assessment and Seismic Risk Mitigation of SASA is similar in that in addition to assessing seismic risk and the evolution of seismic activity, it is also called upon to study seismic risk depending on the area where the event occurs, analyzing mainly the consequences that an earthquake will bring in each area (for example, infrastructure).

The committee consists of six people representing research institutions, and the meetings are attended as observers by representatives of the Ministries of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, who, however, do not have the right to vote. In particular, scientists and researchers from the University of Athens, the National Technical University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens and the AUTH Technical School are participating. These are people who have been selected on the recommendation of their bodies, and the Chairman of the Committee is the President of the OASP, Prof. Efthymis Lekkas, who also acts as a supervised body of the Ministry of Climate Crises and Civil Protection. The representative of each body does not represent his personal views, but the views of his institution.

The goal is for the committee to meet immediately when needed, while at the same time contributing with its findings to the operational readiness and readiness of the civil protection and fire protection forces. After each meeting, the Committee sends its findings to the Ministry of Climate Crises and Civil Protection, informing about the movements and actions to be taken, if deemed necessary. Thus, the conclusion of the commission also determines the level of training and readiness of the civil protection forces.

For its part, the Civil Protection Service, following the recent seismic activity in the region of Greece, continues to constantly update the General Plan for Emergency Response and Elimination of the Consequences of Earthquakes “Englad”, the implementation of which is the responsibility of local government in order to better prepare the municipalities and regions.

It is noted that the committee has already met three times and remains on alert at the request of the Minister for Climate Crises and Civil Protection Chr. Stylianides, to constantly monitor the development of events and, if necessary, convene again.

^{Source: RES-IPE}