December 2, 2002 Earthquake: Megalopolis, Vartholomion, Greece
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Megalopolis, Vartholomion, Greece on December 2, 2002 at 04:58:55 UTC, 10 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- December 2, 2002
- Time
- 04:58:55 UTC
- Place
- Megalopolis, Vartholomion, Greece
- Magnitude
- 5.7 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 37.747° N, 21.087° E
- Country
- Greece
The toll
- Injuries
- 17
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 8
- Houses damaged
- 100
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
At least 17 people injured when a rockslide near Megalopolis caused a train to derail. At least 8 houses destroyed and 100 damaged in the Vartholomion area. Felt strongly on Zakynthos. Also felt in Arkadia and Korinthia Provinces. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 856, Korinthos,patrai (Patras), Greece
- July 7, 551, Schisma, Boetia, Greece
- June 426 BC, Euboea, Greece
- September 30, 1636, Cephalonia, Greece
- August 12, 1953, Lixouri-Argostoli (Kephallenia), Greece
- December 29, 1820, Zakinthos (Zante), Greece
- August 27, 1886, Triphylie (Peleponese), Philiatra, Greece
- July 11, 1767, Kefalonia, Greece
- February 4, 1867, Cephalonia, Greece
- August 23, 1817, Aeghion, Achaia, Greece
- February 25, 1742, Zakynthos, Greece
- August 1, 1870, Itea Delphi (Phokis), Greece
- September 30, 1870, Greece
- March 23, 1783, Lefkada, Greece
- January 19, 1825, Leukas, Ionian Islands, Greece
More
Significant earthquakes of 2002The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2002Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5666.