Ensuring safety and progress after decades of procrastination in Magarikari and at Voutes, the exact cause has not yet been isolated.
Difficult Conditions in Magarikari Reflect Long-Term Neglect
Magarikari’s been dealing with stubborn ground movements for decades. It’s not a small issue—around 70% of the homes bear scars, from hairline cracks to walls that look like they’re barely holding on.
All this goes back to the 1960s, when the ground first started shifting. The problem isn’t just on the surface either; it’s happening about 11 metres underground, where water seeps through and makes the soil slide around.
That underground movement quietly wrecks foundations and buildings above. Some streets look obviously unstable, but honestly, even the spots that seem fine aren’t immune. The whole village is sort of living on borrowed time.
There was a plan, back in the day—over 30 years ago, actually—to build a drainage ditch to manage the water and stop the land from slipping more. But only part of that ditch ever got built. The rest? Still missing. And that leaves a lot of people feeling uneasy.
Finishing and upgrading those drainage works, using the old blueprints as a guide, seems like the only real way forward. But before anyone can break ground, updated studies are needed so local officials can even ask for the money to do it.
The risk for folks living in damaged houses gets a lot worse during earthquakes or pounding rain. When the weather turns bad, or the ground shakes, it’s probably smart for residents to really think about whether their homes are safe. It’s not like the whole village is about to collapse, but the danger under certain conditions is just too real to ignore.
Key Issues |
Details |
|---|---|
Damage Level |
70% of homes affected by ground movement |
Cause |
Soil sliding at about 11 metres underground |
Problem started in the 1960s |
|
Current Solution |
Partial drainage ditch built; needs completion |
Recommended Action |
Update studies and extend drainage ditch |
Risks |
Higher in earthquakes and heavy rainfall |
Safety Advice |
Residents in damaged homes may need to reconsider staying |
Summary of recommendations:
- Finish the originally planned drainage system.
- Modernise and update previous geological studies.
- Local government to find funding sources for construction.
- Residents to monitor risks during bad weather or seismic events.
The trigger for the phenomenon of cracks in voutes has not yet been isolated
The geological shifts and cracks showing up in Voutes, part of Heraklion Municipality, have a tangled set of causes. Some of it’s the steep slopes, the mix of rock layers, and the ever-present water above and below ground.
How those layers sit together matters too, and—let’s be honest—humans have played a part, even if only partly. Still, after all the poking and prodding, no one’s figured out what exactly kicked off the ground movement here in the first place.
Teams from the local council and university folks have teamed up for this. They’ve started with surveys and, unsurprisingly, realized they’ll need to drill boreholes to get a proper look at what’s going on beneath the surface.
It’s not just about the rocks—they’re planning to keep a close eye on ground movement too. Maybe that’ll finally give some answers about what’s stirring things up down there.
| Key Factors Affecting the Phenomenon in Voutes |
|---|
| Steep and varied terrain slopes |
| Geological formations and their arrangement |
| Presence of underground and surface water |
| Influence of human activities, though partly |
The latest checks show the movement’s quieted down lately—nothing major in the last five days. That’s something, though the problem’s far from over.
Next steps? They’re aiming to figure out how best to shore up and protect the area, but it’ll all depend on what the next round of research uncovers.
