New earthquake in Greece's Ionian sea

ATHENS (AFP) May 31, 2004
A new earthquake struck early Monday in Greece, measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale and centered in the Ionian Sea off the western coast, with no injuries or damage reported, the Geodynamic Institute of the Athens Observatory said.

The tremor some 225 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Athens was recorded at 9:30 am (0630 GMT).

The epicenter was the same as that of a slightly weaker earthquake on Sunday that measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.

Greece is located in a zone of high earthquake activity, and the western Peloponnese region, where the two quakes occurred, is particularly prone to tremors.

Three other smaller tremors, measuring 4.4, 4.3 and 4.3, were recorded some 100 kilometers (60 miles) away off the tourist island of Zakinthos in the space of an hour and a half on Sunday evening.

Tourists felt the tremors, but no one was hurt.

TERRA.WIRE