Third quake in less than a month shakes Cyprus (update 2)

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake was felt in Cyprus late Wednesday, the Cyprus Seismological Centre said.

The earthquake was recorded at 23.04 and was felt the strongest in the Paphos district, and to a lesser extent in Limassol and Nicosia.

The Cyprus Seismological Centre said the epicentre of the earthquake was in the sea, 53 km west, northwest of Polis, at a depth of 24 kilometres.

This was the third earthquake felt in Cyprus in less than a month and is believed to be an aftershock of the first and most powerful which struck on January 11 with a magnitude of 6.5. The second tremor was on January 28 and measured 4.5.

No significant damages have been reported, according to the Civil Defence, who immediately got in touch with the fire brigade and the police after the tremor.

“As soon as the Cyprus Seismological Centre told us it has registered an earthquake, we contacted the relevant authorities,” Civil Defence spokesperson Olivia Michaelides told the Cyprus News Agency on Thursday.

“Staying alert is the best weapon we have against earthquakes as it has been proven that even accurate scientific data and observations on seismological movements do not always lead to an earthquake.

“They are very unpredictable phenomena, we cannot know in advance when they occur, where the epicentre will be, nor its intensity,” Michaelides said.

She also added that, should a significant earthquake strike Cyprus, the Civil Defence would set in motion the ‘Engelados’ plan, which involves about 40 agencies in total called to deal with the effects and the potential damages caused by such event.

“The plan would coordinate the search for people trapped under the rubble, organise shelter for whoever remains without accommodation and provide first aid and support to the injured,” Michaelides said.

Ο σεισμός έγινε αισθητός στην επαρχία Πάφου, ελαφρά αισθητός στις επαρχίες Λεμεσού και Λευκωσίας και αντιληπτός στην ανατολική Κύπρο και στα νότια παράλια της Τουρκίας. Αξιολογείται ως μετασεισμός του ισχυρού σεισμού μεγέθους σεισμικής ροπής Μw=6.5 της 11ης Ιανουαρίου 2022. https://t.co/qodBsINfR2

— Sylvana Pilidou (@SylvanaPilidou) February 2, 2022

Despite the Civil Defence saying no damages were recorded, some reports indicate that cracks on older houses in the Paphos district appeared after the tremor in the village of Emba.

According to news outlet Cyprus Times, several Emba residents contacted the police, reporting cracks on their houses and doors not closing properly after the earthquake.

Paphos district officer Mary Lambrou later said that only one instance had been reported and this would be carefully evaluated by experts and civil engineers.

And she said that the district office advises owners of older buildings that qualified engineers should check the structural adequacy of their property.

Lambrou added that the geological department identified some areas in the district with apparent soil problems, which are more sensitive to earthquakes and building permits there require geological and geotechnical studies.

“The safety clauses are there for newer buildings,” she told the Cyprus News Agency.