4.1 Earthquake Once Again Jolts Cephalonia. Gov't Cuts Red Tape & Announces Initiatives

An early morning aftershock tremor worried the residents of Cephalonia who have seen their island suffer unprecedented damages from seismic activity over the past two weeks. According to the Geodynamic Institute, the latest aftershock measured 4.1 on the Richter scale and took place at 5.26am at a depth of about 2km and about 15km northeast of Lixouri. The aftershock was also felt in Zakynthos.

The increased seismic activity and powerful aftershocks have caused great concern and anxiety to the earthquake victims, who refuse to return to their damaged homes, fearing an even greater earthquake is immanent.

On Thursday the government announced a number of initiatives to help the residents of Cephalonia affected by the earthquake to recover and restore damages they suffered.

Following a government meeting in Athens with a number of Ministers, their general secretaries and the Chief of Staff, Minister of Interior Yannis Michelakis announced a number of initiatives aimed at cutting red tap and expediting procedures in issuing grants for the restoration of buildings.

The measures include:

• a 500 euro rent subsidies, depending on family status
• a 600 euro lump sum benefit for earthquake victims
• financial aid of up to 6,000 euros for household belongings
• subsidizing building repairs and reconstruction by up to 80%, with remaining 20% cost being covered by interest-free loans
• abolition of the 2014 emergency real estate tax for earthquake victims
• suspension for three months of all obligations towards insurance funds, submission of tax returns etc

Michelakis also noted that similar measures are available for hotel and tourist businesses that suffered damages in the earthquakes and added that the government is going to take measures for the repairs of the Lixouri port within two months and to restore the road network.

Regarding the operation of schools, the Interior Minister announced that 45 prefabricated buildings have been delivered to the island in order to resume teaching. The technical teams of engineers have also been tasked with prioritizing the inspection of school buildings.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stated that:

     “Cephalonia is going through a hard time. First of all we must protect its people, restore the damages and be on constant alert with care to help, because it is a moral and not just a political obligation”.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos met with the European Commissioner of Regional Policy Johannes Hahn in Athens earlier in the day, who has agreed to consider the activation of the European Solidarity Fund.