In Crete, the largest anti-seismic exercise that has ever been carried out in Greece – What it includes

In Crete, the largest anti-seismic exercise ever carried out in Greece, “Minoas 2024”, will take place, which will include scenarios of two earthquakes of the order of 6.4 and 7.2 on the Richter scale.

The start of the earthquake protection exercise “Minoas 2024” is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, April 22, and is expected to end on Tuesday, April 23. In Crete the Minister of Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, will attend, while the exercise is organized by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the Organization for Earthquake Planning & Protection (OASP) and the Region of Crete.

According to the scenario of the exercise, mafter 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 22 2024 is noted istrong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale with a focus on the underwater area, 20 kilometers north-east of the city of Chania, affecting the P.E. Chania and Rethymno.

Tuesday morningapproximately 24 hours after the first strong seismic event, based on a scenario, n7.2 magnitude earthquake centered 30 kilometers in the underwater area north of the gate of Heraklion, which is strongly felt throughout Crete and in the wider region, particularly affecting the P.E. Heraklion and Lasithi, while at the same time marine geodynamic waves (Tsunamis) are caused which attack the northern coasts of Crete.

The start of the exercise on Monday morning will take place with sending a message from 112 to the general population in Chania and Rethymno, while on Tuesday 23/4/2024 two more messages from 112 will follow, which will be sent in the morning throughout Crete. All messages will begin with the distinctive wording “EXERCISE – EXERCISE – EXERCISE” to make it immediately clear that it is an exercise and to avoid any misinterpretation and confusion.

Efthymios Lekkas explains the “Minoas 2024” anti-seismic exercise

About this important earthquake protection exercise, he spoke to ERTNews Efthymios Lekkasprofessor of Geology and Natural Disaster Management.

“It is the largest anti-seismic exercise that has ever been carried out in Greece with the participation of all of Crete, with the participation of the central agencies. About ten ministries are involved,” said Mr. Lekkas.

Speaking about this important exercise, the president of OASP clarified that it will take place throughout Crete, in the four Regional Units and in the 24 municipalities of Crete.

“The scenario includes two earthquakes. The first earthquake will occur on Monday after 10:00 and will be near Chania with a magnitude of 6.4. It will mainly affect the regional units of Chania and Rethymno” explained Mr. Lekkas. As he said on Tuesday, a second scenario will follow with an earthquake that will occur north of Heraklion, with a magnitude of around 7.2 degrees that will affect all of Crete but mainly the regional units of Heraklion and Lasithi.

And as stated by Mr. Lekkas, among others, the exercise includes 75 episodes that compose a realistic scenario. “These are areas that may face problems during a major earthquake. It is the largest exercise that has been carried out in the Greek area. Over 100,000 – 150,000 people will take part. It includes not only the main network of the scenario and the episodes, but essentially also horizontal actions which will be developed in the ports, the airports, the fire brigade, the police, all public services, the municipalities and the 1040 schools of Crete”.