Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

larnaca, Cyprus • A pre-dawn earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale shook coastal resorts on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus yesterday, but there were no reports of serious casualties or damage.

The 4.35 am (0135 GMT) temblor was strongly felt in the southeastern resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras, the Cyprus seismology centre said. Its epicentre was 10 km off the coast of Ayia Napa at a depth of 40 km, the centre said.

Eyewitness reports suggested the quake lasted for at least 20 seconds but police said there were no immediate reports of any serious injuries or major structural damage. The quake, which coincided with a nocturnal thunderstorm, woke up soldiers at the British army base of Dhekelia further west, causing a minor security alert.

I didn't feel a think!

[twinkle]

quote] The quake, which coincided with a nocturnal thunderstorm, woke up soldiers at the British army base of Dhekelia further west, causing a minor security alert.
[/quote]

What a shame. Poor dears....

[andri_cy]

LOL twinkle. What a shame indeed.

[Olga]

I was awake at the time of the earthquake but didn't feel anything.

[elko]

I got up at 4.30 in the morning to get ready for my early flight from Ercan. About 5 minutes later I felt the earthquake and the noise that accompanied it. I realized that it was a light one and was not afraid at all. I remember the 1953 earthquake in Paphos which was much stronger and lasted much longer. We had to live in tents for months.
Some of the tents were donated by Turkish Red Crescent and it was so sad to notice some Greek Cypriots crossing out the Red Crescent sign. So the Cyprus problem is very much deep seated.
ismet

[Kifeas]

I got up at 4.30 in the morning to get ready for my early flight from Ercan. About 5 minutes later I felt the earthquake and the noise that accompanied it. I realized that it was a light one and was not afraid at all. I remember the 1953 earthquake in Paphos which was much stronger and lasted much longer. We had to live in tents for months.
Some of the tents were donated by Turkish Red Crescent and it was so sad to notice some Greek Cypriots crossing out the Red Crescent sign. So the Cyprus problem is very much deep seated.
ismet

Elko, are you from Pafos?
How old are you now to remeber 1953?

Where you in pafos in 1964 or in 1974?

[miltiades]

Elko , my apologies I misspelled your name earlier , but can you tell me how come you spent months in tents in 1953 following the earthquake ,to the best of my knowledge only the village of Stroumbi was totally destroyed, where were you at the time ?

[elko]

Militiades,
No problem about misspelling, never fussy about it.

Kifeas and Militiades,
I see that you are not a close watcher of this Forum otherwise you would know all this by now. I was born in Ktima 1942 and went to primary School there. So I was 11 years old at the time of the earthquake, old enough to remember. It took place early in the morning, about 7 am. I was awake but in bed at the time. I think it lasted over a minute. At first I thought my mum was shaking the bed to get me up and soon I realized that it was an earthquake. Our house was relatively safe but it did have major cracks. I think it happened in autumn. For a few days we all slept in open air. then the trucks came with some clothes and blankets, then the tents. Many families lived in large army tents for a few more nights until smaller tents arrived, one for each family.
The house I was born and lived through was in Fellahoglou Street, No.104. It was the famous street where the panayiri took place in the old days. Then they moved it to another place and it was not so good any more.
In 1954 I went to the English School in Nicosia. Hence from 1954 to 1957 I visited Ktima only on holidays. Then my father retired from civil service and we settled in Lefka. I graduated from the English School from "upper six" with a record of 5 GCE A. Levels taken in one go and went to England for university education. As far as I know this record is unbeaten. If you know anybody from the English School from 1954 to 1961, ask them about me, "Ismet Vehbi" as I was well known at the time. I was also known as the "Physics Boy" because I had the keys to the Physics Lab. and was free to experiment. My telescope for watching the English School for Girls on the opposite hill and my home made radio with valves was famous.
In 1974 I was on holiday in Lefka. In 1964 I was in London. Any more questions? My pleasure to comply
ismet

[miltiades]

Elko , very interesting and here was I thinking at 60 I'm the oldest !!
The earthquake was indeed in the autumn of 1953 September 10th to be precise at 6.20 in the morning. I remember the day quite well , I was 7 years old and unlike the older people who remained in tents for months ,the youngsters were taken to a home in Kyrenia with the exception of my self 2 brothers and a sister who were taken along with two other boys from the village to the Limassol orphanage , called at the time Pediki Stegi -Children's home.
We were taken from the village just after the burial of my mother who was killed in the earthquake along with I beleive some 20 or so people ,amongst the dead was a young Turkish woman the wife of a policeman who had only just that year moved to the village.

I'm sorry that I missed some of the information about your self but I do promise to acquaint my self with your posts.

As one "Pafian " to another I convey my heartest greetings to you and your family.

[elko]

Miltiades,
I am really sorry to hear about your mother. I think the total casualties were 6. So you must be from Stroumbi. As a child probably you remember my father. My father was a tax collector "Sprahtoras" and Stroumbi was one of the villages in his group. I remember during summer holidays sometimes I went with my father. We would stay in the house of Mukhtar. During daytime my father would do his job sitting in the village coffee shop and collect taxes. I would be entertained by the children of the Mukhtar or Desteban, going round the village on a donkey which was a novelty for a child from a town. You re too young to remember me but perhaps you have older brothers and sisters who may remember me. I definitely remember visiting Stroumbi. Anyway, I am pleased too to meet you here. We have a great deal in common.
ismet