Immediately after the occurrence of the destructive 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck at noon on Friday, October 30, 2020, in the marine area north of Samos, the Rapid Response Team of the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.) was activated to investigate disaster phenomena associated with geological causes, in line with the institutional role of the Authority.
In cooperation with the General Secretariat for Civil Protection (G.S.C.P.) and the Municipality of Eastern Samos, a team of scientists from the Authority, composed of Dr. D. Galanakis, Geologist and Head of the Department of Technological Hazards (TEK), and K. Kontodimos, Geologist of the Department of Natural Hazards (FYK) of the Directorate for the Management of Natural and Technological Hazards (DFYTEK), traveled to Samos the day after the catastrophic event.
The mission’s objectives were twofold: (a) to examine the secondary phenomena triggered by the earthquake (such as landslides, rockfalls, etc.), to assess the associated hazards and impacts on settlements and infrastructure, and to recommend immediate protection and restoration measures; and (b) to conduct macroseismic observations to document the earthquake’s effects.
The H.S.G.M.E. team inspected two major landslide sites that had blocked sections of the island’s road network in the areas of Stavrinides and Avlakia. It recommended that traffic be restored partially or fully, depending on local conditions, after implementing temporary safety measures, pending the execution of definitive restoration works.
The team also examined the landslide-affected section of the village of Kondakeika, where instability was exacerbated by the strong earthquake. Specific temporary stabilization measures were proposed for this area as well.
Finally, during the macroseismic survey, the team observed extensive damage to old buildings and religious structures founded on loose geological formations. In addition, a series of ground displacements ranging from 5 to 8 cm were identified, which are believed to be directly related to the western termination of the fault responsible for the seismic event of October 30, 2020.
