Chania – Earthquake expert Dr. Efthymios Lekkas, the head of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation and a professor at the Department of Dynamic Tectonics and Applied Geology of the Kapodistrian University of Athens, on Wednesday clarified that there is no relation between exploration for oil and gas and the seismic activity recorded in early December 2019 south of Crete.

Speaking at seminar held in Chania to educate municipal employees and officials on earthquake protection, Lekkas explained to the press that “exploration for oil is exploration where very little energy is used, so it has no impact on geodynamic processes that occur at a depth of 10 to 20 km. It is like claiming that a butterfly flies in New York and its flight is perceptible here in Greece.”

Lekkas reiterated that the seismic sequence recorded south of Crete in early December has no correlation with the earthquakes in Albania and in other parts of Greece. “The surge recorded two months ago in Greece and in Albania was completely coincidental.”

Asked about the safety of public buildings in Greece, Lekkas said that most are well shielded against earthquakes.