Another Strong Quake Strikes Southern Greece; 37 Injured

A strong earth tremor today rolled through the same area of southern Greece where an earthquake two days ago killed at least 18 people. Police said the latest temblor injured 37 people in this port city 110 miles southwest of Athens.

The Athens Seismological Institute said today’s quake measured 5.6 on the Richter scale and occurred at 2:41 p.m. It had the same epicenter as Saturday’s quake, which registered 6.2 on the Richter scale.

Two aftershocks, of 4.1 and 3.8, from the weekend quake rattled Kalamata before dawn today, preceding the stronger afternoon tremor. A four-story apartment building damaged on Saturday collapsed. Police said no one was in the building and there were no injuries.

Police said that the afternoon tremor knocked down two other damaged apartment buildings and that 37 people were being treated for minor injuries.

Thousands of residents of Kalamata spent a second night in the open Sunday after Defense Minister Yoannis Haralambopoulos cautioned people not to return to their homes. He said the government was providing tents to shelter up to 10,000 people at campsites in parks and vacant lots around the city.