Greek authorities alerted after increased seismic activity in Turkey

Greek seismologists on Monday advised local authorities to be on alert after the increased seismic activity in neighboring Turkey over the past week.

Following the four earthquakes measuring more than 5 on the Richer scale and many more lighter tremors recorded since Feb. 6 with epicenter in the Turkish waters some 15 nautical miles west of Lesvos island, Greek scientists are closely monitoring developments, Gerasimos Chouliaras, head of the Seismic Research of the Geodynamics Institute of the Athens Observatory, told SKAI TV on Monday.

Underlining the rarity of the phenomenon for Greece, the expert noted that the quakes were recorded near a fault that in the past has caused very strong earthquakes.

Professor of Geophysics Kostas Papazachos shared the concern over the possible activation of this particular fault which had given a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in 1865.

Greek authorities, in particular on Lesvos island, should be on alert, he told Ant1 television.

On his part, Professor Efthimios Lekkas, chief of Greece's Ant seismic Planning and Protection Organization, suggested calm.

According to scientific knowledge regarding the characteristics of the area, the possibility for a strong earthquake in Greece triggered by the recent seismic activity in Turkey is slight, he told Greek national news agency AMNA. Endit