1st LD Writethru: Moderate earthquake jolts Athens

ATHENS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A moderate earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale jolted Athens on Monday, according to the Greek Geodynamic Institute which revised downwards preliminary estimates.

No injuries or material damages have been reported, according to the Fire Service.

The epicenter of the 4.4 tremor was located at about 24 kilometers northeast of Athens at a focal depth of 5 kilometers, according to the press statement. Earlier seismologists had estimated that it was up to 4.8 in the Richter scale.

The area has not produced big earthquakes and therefore stronger tremors are not expected, Professor of Geology Efthimios Lekkas, President of the Greek Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, told Greek national news agency AMNA.

Gerasimos Chouliaras, head of the research department of the Athens Observatory, said in an announcement that the quake came from the same focal area that on Jan. 9 gave 18 tremors within 10 hours and seismologists are following the phenomenon.

Earthquake prone Greece is often hit by minor or moderate quakes.

Earlier on Monday a 3.5 tremor had hit central Peloponnese peninsula about 200 kilometers southwest of Athens.

The most destructive earthquake which hit Greece in recent years occurred in Athens in 1999, measured 6 on the Richter scale and caused about 100 casualties. Enditem