A scheduled meeting of the Regional Operational Coordination Body for Civil Protection of the Heraklion Prefecture is taking place in the presence of the president of OASP, Professor Efthymis Lekkas, chaired by the Deputy Regional Governor of Heraklion, Nikos Syrygonakis, in the Conference Room of the Region of Crete.

According to ERT, Mr. Lekkas informed about the two fissures, each 150 meters long, in Voutes, Heraklion, stating that investigations are underway to determine if the cause is a soil rupture, a landslide, rotational sliding, differential settlement, or liquefaction of the ground. “We don’t know that yet. It is most likely a tectonic rupture, though not from an earthquake, but from other causes,” he added, “with all due caution.”

He described the damage as small, manageable, and mentioned the actions taken, stressing that there is no cause for concern.

However, in the area, there has been some unrest among the residents in the past 24 hours, with some citizens noting that despite hearing some noises, they did not initially realize that these fissures were forming.

The president of the Permanent Special Scientific Committee for Seismic Risk Assessment also mentioned that monitoring in the area would continue, and that particular attention would be paid to observing the upcoming measurements to detect possible deformations, following recordings from drones and high-definition systems.

Damage to 20 houses, 7 deemed uninhabitable

A technical team from the Heraklion Municipality’s engineering service, consisting of six civil engineers, earlier carried out inspections of buildings and homes. According to ERT, damage has been recorded in approximately 20 houses, seven of which were deemed potentially uninhabitable and temporary evacuations were requested. Authorities also closed a playground.

The municipal authority is requesting that the area be declared a state of emergency. “An emergency declaration will be made. The request will be submitted by the mayor to the General Secretariat, and the General Secretariat is positive about declaring the area,” said the president of OASP.”