Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Struck southern Greece on October 17, 2023 14:51:11
Last Updated: 2023-10-22 20:53:29On October 17, 2023 14:51:11 an earthquake with magnitude of 4.4 on the richter scale hit southern Greece. The earthquake originated at a depth of approximately 99.051 kilometers below the Earth's surface on longitude 23.174° and latitude 37.421°. According to documented reports 3 people felt the earth quake, No tsunami was triggered due to the earthquake.
Magnitude & Depth
The earthquake that appeared on October 17, 2023 14:51:11 had a magnitude of 4.4 on the richter scale. Which is considered to be a minor earthquake and is often felt but causes little to no damage.
Shallow earthquakes are considered between 0 and 70 km deep, while intermediate earthquakes range from 70 - 300 km deep and deep earthquakes are between 300 - 700 km deep.
Are shallow earthquakes more destructive?
Shallow quakes generally tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. Seismic waves from deep quakes have to travel farther to the surface, losing energy along the way.
Nearby Cities and Towns
The nearest significant population center is Kranídi in Peloponnese Region, Greece, located 4 kilometers or 2 miles ↓ S of the earthquake's epicenter. Other cities in close proximity include Koilás (Peloponnese Region, Greece) located 4 km (2 mi) ↙ SW and Dídyma (Peloponnese Region, Greece) located 4 km (2 mi) ↖ NW of the epicenter.
In total, we found 92 cities in our database that might have been impacted by the earthquake.
Nearby Power Plants
We found a total 8 utility-scale power plants in the vecinity of the earthquakes epicenter. The closest being DERVENI-MIKRO DERVENI-SLIVA Wind power plant, located 7 kilometers (4 miles) ↖ NW from the epicenter.
| Distance | Direction | Power Plant | Type | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 km (4 mi) | ↖ NW | DERVENI-MIKRO DERVENI-SLIVA | Wind | 24.0 MW |
| 7 km (4 mi) | ↖ NW | LOGGARAKIA | Wind | 18.0 MW |
| 22 km (13 mi) | ↗ NE | Alasia Solar Power Plant | Solar | 1.5 MW |
| 52 km (32 mi) | ← W | Koutsopodi Solar Power Plant | Solar | 2.0 MW |
| 56 km (35 mi) | ↖ NW | Korinthos Power Plant | Gas | 437.0 MW |
| 70 km (43 mi) | ↑ N | Agios Georgiou | Gas | 360.0 MW |
| 78 km (48 mi) | ↓ S | Skala I | Solar | 6.0 MW |
| 78 km (48 mi) | ↓ S | Skala II-IV | Solar | 23.0 MW |
Power Plants & Risks During Earthquakes
We found 3 types of power plants in the vecinity of the magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck southern Greece on October 17, 2023 14:51:11. These types were Gas power plants, Solar power plants, Wind power plants, below you find information how each type of power plant can pose a risk to you as a person or the ecosytem around you.
None of this information should be used as guidence in an event of an emergency, but rather as additional references to information provided by national, state and local authorities.Gas Power
Gas power plants can pose significant risks to people and the environment in their vicinity during earthquakes.
Gas Leaks and Fires
Gas power plants rely on natural gas, which can leak from pipelines and equipment when damaged by seismic activity. These leaks can lead to fires and explosions, endangering people in the plant's vicinity.
Impact on Air Quality
Gas power plants emit pollutants, and fires caused by gas leaks during an earthquake can release harmful substances into the air. This can pose health risks to nearby residents.
Environmental Impact
Gas leaks can also harm the local environment, potentially contaminating soil and water sources.
To mitigate these risks, most modern gas power plants have robust safety measures in place, including gas leak detection systems, emergency response plans, and communication protocols to alert nearby communities in case of an incident. Additionally, local authorities should conduct risk assessments and ensure that emergency services are well-prepared to respond to potential hazards posed by gas power plants during earthquakes.
Solar Power
Solar power plants generally pose fewer risks compared to conventional power plants that use fossil fuels or nuclear energy. However, they are not without their own set of potential risks and challenges. Below you can find some of the risks associated with solar power plants in an event of a severe earthquake.
Environmental Impact
The production of solar panels involves the use of various materials, including rare metals and chemicals. Severe earthquakes could potentially introduce these into the ecosystems of their location.
Fire Risk
Although the solar panels themselves are not typically a fire hazard, electrical components like inverters and batterises that store the electricity can pose a risk. Electrical malfunctions or faults can lead to fires, especially in poorly maintained systems in an event of a severe earthquake, and thus pose a longterm risk for the local ecosystem.
Overall, the mitigation of risks associated with utility-scale solar power plants involves a combination of technological advancements, sustainable practices, regulatory adherence, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Wind Power
In the event of a severe earthquake, wind power plants typically pose lower risks to people and ecosystems compared to some other types of power generation, such as nuclear or fossil fuel power plants. Below you'll find potential risks to still consider.
Turbine Collapse
The most significant risk to people is the potential collapse of wind turbine towers during a severe earthquake. If a wind turbine were to collapse, it could cause injury or loss of life to anyone in the vicinity.
Wildlife Impact
Wind turbines can pose a risk to local wildlife. In the event of an earthquake, there could be concerns about the displacement or injury of wildlife in the vicinity of the turbines or wild fires resulting from internal malfunction of turbines.
While wind power plants do have risks associated with earthquakes, they are generally considered to be a lower-risk energy source in terms of environmental and safety concerns when compared to certain other forms of power generation. Proper planning, engineering, and maintenance practices help mitigate these risks and ensure the safe operation of wind power plants during earthquakes.
Data Information
Information found on this page is a derivative set, based on sources mentioned below.
Data Sources
We aggregate and combine data from USGS (United States Geographical Survey) and the EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre). This allow us to get near real-time and historical earthquake data dating back to the year 1950.
Disclaimer
Information or data found on this page should not be used for, or as an early warning system. It is intended as an historical reference or near real-time complementary information to offical and governmental sources. In an event of an emergency it is important closely monitor and follow advice from national, state and local authorities.