Field observations of geological effects triggered by the January-February 2014 Cephalonia (Ionian Sea, Greece) earthquakes

On Jan. 26 and Feb 3, 2014 Cephalonia Island, Ionian Sea, Greece, was struck by two strong, shallow earthquakes (NOA local magnitudes M(L)5.8 and M(L)5.7, respectively). The earthquakes ruptured two sub-parallel, strike-slip faults, with right-lateral kinematics. During both earthquakes, ground-shaking phenomena such as liquefaction, road failures, rock falls, small/medium size landslides and stonewall failures were widespread all over the western part of the island. No primary fault surface ruptures were observed, however one patch of the rupture of the second event may have nearly reached the surface, because of the abundance of surface cracks with cm-size offsets mapped in the field in north Paliki Peninsula. Liquefaction phenomena were mainly triggered in reclaimed lands in the waterfront areas of Argostoli and Lixouri inducing structural damages to quays, sidewalks and piers. We also present evidence for liquefaction-induced ground disruption in the recently constructed marina of Argostoli, which is situated at the opposite (eastern) shore to the town. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.