Strong quake hits Kefalonia

 ATHENS, Greece (AP):

A STRONG earthquake with a preliminary magnitude between 5.7 and 6.1 hit the western Greek island of Kefalonia before dawn Monday, sending frightened residents into the streets just over a week after a similar quake damaged hundreds of buildings, reviving memories of a disaster in the 1950s.

Authorities said about 16 people had been slightly hurt, mainly by falling objects, while roads, homes, and shops were damaged and some areas suffered power and water-supply cuts. Islanders also had to contend with intense bad weather, with strong rain and low temperatures.

Kefalonia Mayor Alexandros Parisis said the port at the island's second-largest town of Lixouri, the closest to the epicentre, had been damaged. Images from the area showed part of the pier breaking off and boats that had been on land for repair toppling over.

Earthquakes have been rattling Kefalonia constantly for the last week, after a 5.9-magnitude temblor struck the area on January 26, damaging homes and slightly injuring seven people. Since then, thousands of residents have been spending nights with relatives or in ships sent to accommodate them.

Schools on the island have been shut for the past week and had not been scheduled to reopen until Wednesday, said Deputy Mayor Evangelos Kekatos.