Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-08-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM focuses on Lefkada quake in holiday message

[02] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Saturday

[01] Greek PM focuses on Lefkada quake in holiday message

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday celebrated the Dormition of the Theotokos religious holiday on the Cyclades island of Sifnos, where he issued a message in light of an earthquake that rocked the Ionian sea region, especially Lefkada, on Thursday.

''Today is a day of joy and celebrations, but we have to think of our fellow citizens in Lefkada who where hit by the earthquake. It was a very strong quake. The government will do, as always, everything possible to deal with the effects of the earthquake,'' Simitis said.

The 6.4 on the Richter scale quake, which was recorded at 8:15 a.m., caused serious damage to several older buildings in Lefkada's main town, while roads also were damaged and about 50 people were injured. Five were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Aftershocks were recorded in the region over the past 48 hours, leading most tourists to depart. Thursday's quake comes almost 50 years to the day since a destructive 1953 earthquake claimed the lives of hundreds of people on the neighboring island of Cephallonia.

[02] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Saturday

Sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country on Saturday with local clouds forming in the afternoon hours in the north. Winds will be light, turning moderate in the Aegean. Temperatures on the mainland will range from 18C to 39C; in the Ionian Sea from 22C to 36C; and in the Aegean islands from 22C to 36C. Temperatures in Athens between 23C and 39C; and in Thessaloniki from 21C to 38C.

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