GRIEF FEAR AND FURY AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES IN ALBANIA

Devastation After the Earthquakes' Fury 

I had promised myself that I would not write unpleasant or tragic news in this post.  But I reconsidered after a large earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale shook north-western Albania, unfortunately, leaving 41 people dead, over 648 injured and 51 still missing. The damages are very severe, there is no power, and it is feared, the aftershocks will flatten out the ruins that are still standing, possibly causing more victims.  

Unfortunately, the buildings in Albania were built in a slapdash fashion and not under anti-seismic specification laws, so they were susceptible to collapse with the faintest of tremors.  The Albanians, besides having a feeling of profound grief for losing their loved ones and fear for more and stronger earthquakes, are, also, extremely furious against their governments for not compelling them to use strict building regulations.  


Meanwhile, rescue workers from the neighbouring countries, the European Union and the USA, risking their lives, are desperately trying to save people that are trapped under the rubble. 

This brought back sad memories of the 1953 monster earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richet scale, in Cephalonia, Ithaki and Zakynthos, which totally flattened out the islands, leaving 600 dead and umpteen injured.  My parents and I were, then, on home leave, visiting our island, Cephalonia.  We survived this tragic event but it left our beloved Cephalonia and the other islands levelled to ruins. Some of our compatriots were in deep mourning and all were homeless, living in tents but dreaming constantly of building a beautiful, new Argostoli.  All three islanders were, then, greatly admired worldwide, for their resilience and courage.   


It took many years for the islands to be restored after this appalling disaster, but, somehow, the new buildings of Argostoli certainly don't resemble our distant but very clear memories of the magnificent constructions that were erected so many years ago, according to Venetian and neo-classic architecture.      

Argostoli, Cephalonia After the 1953 Monster Earthquake 

Cephalonia the Homeric Island of Culture and History

(I wish to thank ERT, BBC, FRANCE 24, CNN and the August 1953 international press for their valuable information and photographs, without which this post would not have been published)