Yesterday's quake, whose magnitude the Athens Geodynamic Institute revised to 5.9 from the preliminary 5.8, was followed by dozens of aftershocks that continued through today.
Frightened residents were preparing to spend a second night in their cars or town squares, fearing a possible bigger quake. Many recall the devastating quakes of 1953, when a 7.2 magnitude temblor struck three days after a 6.4 one, killing hundreds, injuring thousands and destroying nearly all the buildings on the islands.
Buildings erected in the area since 1953 have been constructed to strict anti-seismic specifications, and serious damage from Sunday's quake was limited. Rockslides shut some roads, and many homes and stores suffered cracks and broken windows.
Schools will remain shut for a second day on both islands Tuesday while engineers inspect school buildings to ensure they are safe, the government said in a statement.
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Two ferries with a combined capacity of nearly 4,000 passengers were dispatched to Kefalonia to provide housing for residents whose homes were damaged.
Authorities also sent rescue vehicles and disaster response units on standby to Kefalonia, as well as police reinforcements.
Earthquakes are common throughout Greece, but the vast majority are small and cause no injuries or damage.