By Con Charalambous
Εxperts have referred today to a classic aftershock sequence that is gradually phasing out, easing the tremor fear that had gripped Cyprus following Wednesday's quakes in Paphos.
The latest aftershock occurred just after three this morning and was measured as 3 on the richter scale, at a depth of 22 kilometres, and 14 kilometres northeast of the district.
Professor of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Frederick University Milton Demosthenous, specialising in anti-seismic technology, told Politis radio that the phenomenon is subsiding, adding however that every seismic shock, no matter how small, still puts a strain on the building stock, largely unequal in its nature, from the wooden structures of previous decades to the pro-1995 apartment blocks lacking quake protection structures.
Seismic activity will continue
Demosthenous clarified that no one can safely say or predict the sequence and development of seismic phenomena, but it seems like there is a measure of phasing out, more than 48 hours later.
'The main quake has occurred and we are in a sequence of aftershocks', the professor added, noting that whether it was a double hit or not (a 5.3 in the morning and a 5.2 in the afternoon of the 12th) requires serious scientific processing and there is no simple answer to it.
'There is one major faultline under Cyprus and smaller minor ones', he added.
Demosthenous further made clear that the event in Cyprus bore no relation to the so-called 'seismic swarm' of Santorini, which had different geonynamic characteristics.
'This is a classic seismic sequence, with a main quake and continued aftershocks'.
The major faultline that caused the quake, as he explained, extends from the Paphos airport area to the foothills of the Troodos range, roughly following the riverbed which seasonally provides water to the Asprokremmos dam. It is the same faultline that caused a 4.7 quake in 2022, south of Paphos.
Building infrastructures in Cyprus
Professor Dimosthenous outlined the state of building structures over the past century, noting that up to 1960, most were made out of stone. Post-independence, reinforced concrete was the order of the day, but there was no built in anti-seismic design right up to 1995.
The first anti-seismic code in Cyprus was adopted during that year and was replaced by relevant Eurocodes in 2012.
In essence, a large part of homes, schools and structures is of much lower anti-seismic standard, he added, warning that the situation is highly unequal when it comes to structural stability, quality and resistance.
'Each tremor puts a strain on buildings, no matter how small', the expert concluded.