2008 Dodecanese earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Dodecanese earthquake, on 15 July 2008, was an earthquake near Kattavia
on the island of Rhodes
in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
. The quake struck at 06:26 a.m. local time (GMT+3) and one woman was killed when she slipped and fell as she tried to flee her home. However, the earthquake did not cause any major damage. The earthquake was felt across the entire eastern Mediterranean, as far west as Libya
, and inland as far as Damascus
.
There was a significant aftershock the next day, 16 July, at 02:52 a.m. local time, which resulted in additional injuries. The aftershock was rated between 4.8 Mw and 5.0 Mw.
There is not unanimity on the location of the epicenter. The USGS
places the epicenter at 35.983°N 27.785°E which is under the island of Rhodes about 3.4 kilometers northeast of Kattavia
; while the Athens Institute of Geodynamics
coordinates (35.85°N 27.92°E) place the epicenter 19 km southeast of Kattavia which is off the island, under the seabed.
Kattavia
Kattavia is a small village located on the southernmost tip of the island of Rhodes. It is located within the municipality of South Rhodes and was at the epicentre of the 2008 Dodecanese earthquake....
on the island of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. The quake struck at 06:26 a.m. local time (GMT+3) and one woman was killed when she slipped and fell as she tried to flee her home. However, the earthquake did not cause any major damage. The earthquake was felt across the entire eastern Mediterranean, as far west as Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, and inland as far as Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
.
There was a significant aftershock the next day, 16 July, at 02:52 a.m. local time, which resulted in additional injuries. The aftershock was rated between 4.8 Mw and 5.0 Mw.
There is not unanimity on the location of the epicenter. The USGS
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
places the epicenter at 35.983°N 27.785°E which is under the island of Rhodes about 3.4 kilometers northeast of Kattavia
Kattavia
Kattavia is a small village located on the southernmost tip of the island of Rhodes. It is located within the municipality of South Rhodes and was at the epicentre of the 2008 Dodecanese earthquake....
; while the Athens Institute of Geodynamics
National Observatory of Athens
The National Observatory of Athens is a research institute in Athens, Greece. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest research foundation in Greece, as it was the first scientific research institute built after Greece became independent in 1829, and one of the oldest research institutes in Southern...
coordinates (35.85°N 27.92°E) place the epicenter 19 km southeast of Kattavia which is off the island, under the seabed.