The Greece, Turkey earthquake in 2014 stands as the most economically devastating event, with damages amounting to
$4,500 million USD. This figure not only surpasses other events in the dataset but does so significantly, indicating a major impact on both countries' economies and possibly the need for substantial recovery efforts.
Athens has experienced two major earthquakes, in 1999 and 1981, with economic damages recorded at
$4,200 million USD and
$812 million USD, respectively. The stark difference in damages highlights the varying severity and impacts of earthquakes even within the same geographical region over time.
Economic Damages Across Decades
Economic damages from earthquakes in Greece have shown significant variation, from as low as
$10 million USD in
Alonisos,
Skopelos (1965) to as high as
$4,500 million USD in Greece, Turkey (2014). This range indicates the unpredictable nature of earthquake impacts on economic infrastructures over the years.
Frequency and Impact of Earthquakes in the 1990s
The 1990s were marked by multiple significant earthquakes in Greece, with the
Grevena-Kozani,
Thessaloniki, Yugoslavia, and
Aiyion,
Eratini earthquakes in 1995 causing combined damages of
$1,110 million USD. These events underscore the decade's susceptibility to high-impact earthquakes.
Recent Economic Losses Due to Earthquakes
The most recent earthquake in
Tyrnavos, Larisa, in 2021, resulted in comparatively minimal economic damage of
$14 million USD. This contrasts sharply with the damages from the 2014 earthquakes, suggesting variations in earthquake severity and perhaps improvements in infrastructure resilience over time.
Economic Resilience and Recovery Over Time
The economic damages from earthquakes in Greece have fluctuated widely, from the
$178 million USD damage in
Lixouri-Argostoli (1953) to the
$450 million USD in Grevena-Kozani, Thessaloniki, Yugoslavia (1995). This variance might reflect changes in economic valuation, infrastructure development, and
disaster preparedness strategies over the decades.