April 22, 1948 Earthquake: Vasiliki (Leukas), Greece

1948, April 22, 10:43 local time. Ionian Sea, Ionian Islands. A strong earthquake in the southern part of the Island of Levkas caused considerable destruction. 244 houses in the district were destroyed completely, 998 underwent more or less serious damage, and slight cracks were formed in 1,024 houses. The main area of destruction (189 collapsed houses, 2 people killed and 45 wounded) embraced the villages: Vasiliki, Ay. Petros, Kalamitsi and Englouvi. Numerous stone screes and soil avalanches took place in the main zone of destruction, especially near the villages of Kalamitsi and Englouvi. Part of the cattle herd was killed in Kalamitsi. The ground was cracked, many fissures 35 - 40 m long and 3 - 5 cm wide of latitudinal direction appeared in the earth on the coast near the village of Vasiliki. Underground waterways were not significantly affected. The destruction on the western shore of the island was not so serious. Buildings were slightly damaged in the town of Levkas.

The earthquake also affected the northern parts of the Islands of Ithaca and Kefallonia.

The area where the earthquake was felt stretched out in the latitudinal direction. The earthquake was noticed up to Epithalio, Larisa, Trikala, Ioannina, on the Island of Kerkyra, and was scarcely felt in Athens. There were not many aftershocks, but an earthquake of comparable force occurred on June 30 (M = 6.4) with its focus to the north -west of the Island of Levkas, the area where it was felt extended from north to south.

A tsunami wave about 1 m high was noted in Vasiliki.

(above from reference #2130)

1948, April 22, 10:42:47.51 UTC. 38.532 N, 20.425 E, depth 15 km, magnitude 6.5 Mw. (reference #10476)

1948, April 22, 10:42:45, 38.71 N, 20.57° E, h = M=6.5, Leukada (IX, Vasilike). According to Galanopoulos (1955), the most important damage was caused in the SW part of Leukada where 244 buildings were entirely destroyed, 998 were seriously damaged, 2 persons were killed and 45 were injured. It seriously hit the villages Vasilike, Ag.Petros,· Kalamitsi and Eglove with 189 houses collapsed up to the ground, 2 deaths and 145 injured. […] This earthquake destroyed the NW part of Leukada and pulled down 280 houses and 150 suffered light damage. In the whole island, 1209 houses were destroyed and 1869 suffered serious damage. Large damage suffered the villages Tsoukalades, Ag.Niketas, Drymonas, Kalamitsi and Exanthia. 7 persons were killed and 100 were injured (reference #4408)