ZAKYNTHOS AND other Ionian islands on the western coastline are popular summer tourist spots for thousands of foreigners, including mainly Britons and Italians who own homes there. However, earthquake experts have issued a shock warning to residents and holidaymakers in western Greece and the Ionian islands to stay away from old buildings and beaches with cliffs, after a series of strong tremors shook the region ahead of the busy summer tourist season.
Greece is one of the most seismically active areas in Europe and has suffered dozens of medium-strength quakes in the past year, and seismologists cannot predict whether stronger quakes are in the offing. The recent earthquakes, measuring between 5.7 and 5.9 on the Richter scale, woke hundreds of people in their beds. However, all experts at the University of Patras can do, is to closely monitor this phenomenon, while in the meantime urging people to stay away from old houses, beaches and cliffs.
