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Greece is sixth in the world by seismic activity. The country occupies 0.02% of Earth's surface by releasing 2% of the world's seismic energy each year and more than 50% of the EU one. 

These impressive data was revealed by the person responsible for civil protection - Konstantinos Kokolakis – in central Macedonia, on the occasion of the Congress for "Earthquakes: Prevention and Protection", which will be held this afternoon at the Municipal Neapoli Theater in Thessaloniki. Greece has 157 active seismic zones, in which currently have occurred 570 earthquakes that measured over 6.0 on the Richter scale. 

"The biggest earthquakes were 8.2 on the Richter scale in South Crete in 365, and 8.0 on the Richter scale in Kastellorizo in 1303, where there were 4000 killed," added Mr. Kokolakis. Out of the 570 earthquakes, 20 were in Zakynthos, 17 in Kefalonya and 16 in Lefkada, which makes the region of the Ionian Islands the most seismic area in Greece. 

“The ranking is led by Japan’s seismic activity, followed by the Republic of Vanuatu, Peru, Solomon Islands and Chile, where the largest recorded earthquake was on May 22, 1960 - 9,5 on the Richter scale," added Mr. Kokolakis. 

Meanwhile Bulgarian seismologist Prof. Rangel Giurov provided that in the second half of March a powerful earthquake will hit Greece, said he in an interview for Borislav Lazarov. "There will be more floods in Bulgaria and Europe due to the melting snow and the expected spring temperatures,” is convinced Professor Giurov. 

"Not 2012 but 2014 may become a fatal year because of the danger of strong earthquakes: Probably on average data, in 2014 the Balkan Peninsula will be even more seismically active, according to our estimates," said the expert in an interview for bTV. 

Professor Rangel Giurov’s earthquake predictions until now have come true in 80% of the cases. "The main reason for the turmoil in Haiti and Chile is the pressure on earth's crust, created by the rotation of our planet," said for the Bulgarian media Prof. Giurov. "Among other factors, during the rotation of the earth it deforms and initially goes through compressive stress, then tensile stress. And when there is tensile stress the earth cracks on certain places. The places where layers can tear are predictable and this tearing causes strong earthquakes," explains Prof. Dr. Rangel Giurov. 

Photos: bTV, Associated Press