Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-09-12

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 12/09/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Morning tremor no cause for concern
• Archbishop says prayers in quake zone
• Quake death toll rises to 115
• More than 4000 homes to be pulled down
• Plane makes successful emergency landing
• Police seek Finn 'cat-napper'
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Seismologists calmed fears as an aftershock measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale shook Athenians out of their beds on Sunday, saying that the tremor was a logical extension of Tuesday's 5.9 magnitude quake. "The proximity of residential areas to the epicentre of the 5.9 quake means that even the smaller magnitude tremors and aftershocks will be felt," Associate professor at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki Dimitris Panayiotopoulos told the ANA. The quake was recorded at 9.17 a.m. and had the same epicentre as Tuesday's quake.

Archbishop says prayers in quake zone

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos was conducting Sunday prayers when this morning's strong aftershock was recorded, but reports say neither the archbishop nor his congregants made any move to leave the Church of the Virgin Mary, in Kolonkinthous. The church - which suffered serious structural damage and has been cordoned off as the top half of its bell tower is balancing preacriously on top of the building - is slated for demolition.

Quake death toll rises to 115

The death toll for Tuesday's quake rose to 115 overnight as recue workers pulled more bodies from the rubble of collapsed buildings. One hundred Greek and foreign rescue crews are at work at six points around the quake- stricken areas, including the Ricomex factory, where 21 people were still listed as missing. Among the rescue crews are Germans (17-man), Turks (71), French (48 and 11 sniffer dogs), Russians (5 and two dogs), Swiss (seven), Cypriots (17) and Israelis (30).

More than 4000 homes to be pulled down

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis on Sunday said that ministry engineers would have inspected 70,000 homes by Tuesday, with the emphasis moving to other regions hit less seriously by the quake. Of 37,155 inspections so far, 50 percent (18,401) of homes have been deemed suitable for habitation; 39 percent (14,628) in need of repair; and 11 percent (4,126) in need of demolition. Laliotis said he hoped those left homeless by the quake would be able to move out of their tents and into more permanent accommodation in about six to eight weeks and clled on mayors in the areas to find space to create settlements.

Plane makes successful emergency landing

An Olympic Aviation ATR airplane landed safely at Athens' Hellenikon Airport with its 58 passengers and crew on Sunday, following problems with its landing wheel mechanism. The ATR was on a routine Athens to Preveza flight when the pilot reported that the craft's wheels refused to lock into place for landing. He reported the problem as he came in to land at Preveza. Air traffic control ordered the plane to return to Athens where it landed safely. Airport authorities said the problem was a common one and dealing with it a routine affair. For precautionary reasons, however, authorities had placed hospital, fire and other services on alert.

Police seek Finn 'cat-napper'

Police in Thessaloniki are seeking a 54-year-old Finnish woman for allegedly stealing her friend's Persian cat, they said on Sunday. Irma Swan, a journalist visiting Greece from Finland, "cat-napped" the cat while she was staying with Marina Meintani, 33, in her apartment. Meintani alleged Swan took the cat around midnight on Friday. She filed charges of theft against Swam with the local police on Saturday evening. Police say they are seeking Swan for questioning.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Monday's rates (buying)

(M.P.)

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