Thessaloniki – Unprecedented deafening sound disturbs the residents of Meteora Polichnis
Unprecedented deafening sound has disturbed the residents in the area of Meteora Polichni of the municipality of Pavlos-Mela, in Thessaloniki.
This sound, according to the testimonies of the residents, is heard in the evening and has been recorded for five weeks.
Specifically, a month ago, from the middle to the early morning hours, the residents of the Meteora area realized an annoying sound that is heard louder at the junction of Kifissias and Acropolis streets.
What the residents say
Testimonials of residents at ThessToday.gr explain the frightening situation they have been experiencing lately to the point of not being able to sleep, their worries about the origin of the sound but also the fears that inspire them.
The first resident who noticed the sound and addressed the Citizens’ Union “Meteora” is Vangelis Kochilakis who speaking to ThessToday.gr, said that he lives on Kifisias Street and is the fifth week that he hears the same sound every night. He described it as deafening and first heard it at 8 in the morning.
“In the beginning I did not pay attention but in the process I listened to him late at night. As the days passed the sound was heard even when I was inside my house. At the intersection of Kifissias and Acropolis streets, it sounds louder, as if the epicenter is there as well as inside the aqueduct where it is located a few kilometers away. When we are at the point where it sounds loud, we feel like someone is knocking through the ground. There, of course, is the gas pipeline. We are all afraid because we do not know where it comes from. There are people who wake up from the sound 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning. “For example, yesterday at 5:30 in the morning, I was awake and listening to him”, describes Mr. Kochilakis.
At the same time, Ms. Anastasia Lampada, a resident of Meteora, explained to ThessToday.gr that those who live on the ground floor hear the sound in their home. “I personally listen to him a lot when I’m on my balcony. We walked with other residents to see where it leads and at the intersection it sounds very loud, as if given to the ground. Many families can not sleep at night. Now, it has become more intense and more annoying. In fact, on Saturday, January 8, because it was very loud at 1:30 pm, we all went out to see where it was coming from. “When we get to the center, we feel the duk… duk… duk…”, he described, emphasizing that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately as no one knows what can happen.
Gas, water or geological phenomenon?
According to the estimates of the residents of the area and the vice-president of the EU Citizens “Meteora”, Nikos Papadopoulos, the sound may be due to technical works in the area without excluding geological phenomena. Mr. Papadopoulos stated to ThessToday.gr that “after many complaints from the residents, we sent a request to the municipality of Pavlos Melas to investigate as the will of all of us does not identify the origin of the sound that has been bothering us for 5 weeks”.
He pointed out, in fact, that the residents are worried either about an explosion in the gas pipelines as the works in the area were recently completed, or about a leak in an EYATH pipeline or for reasons in the aqueduct pipes. “The unknown scares us. “We want to know where it comes from,” he underlined.
To investigate an expert, as the locals say, he has to go to the checkpoint after 12 at night.
EYATH ladder in the area
The Deputy Mayor of Everyday Life – Immediate Intervention and Civil Protection of the municipality of Pavlos-Mela, Iosif Akis Arapoglou noted in ThessToday.gr that he performed the autopsy in the area, on Wednesday night, and heard the strange sound mainly in the openings of the streets. “We contacted EYATH as the sound sounded like a water slide and on the morning of January 12, a ladder went to the area to check. However, due to the noises of the city during the day, it was not possible to hear the sound and so, we were informed that the same will do the point at night since it is heard more loudly. “So far there has been no official information,” he said.
He added that the point where the problem is located, is characterized by high altitude and gusts of wind but “it seems strange to us to be heard on a daily basis. It may be due to an EYATH pipeline and that is why we first contacted the service. “Even if the cause is not found, we will call a geologist to investigate.”
ThessToday.gr contacted Vassilis Melfos, associate professor of geology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and estimated that, according to what they described to him about the sound in Meteora, it is probably due to the technical works in the area. “The geological phenomenon has been ruled out at the moment because if it existed, small landslides and cracks would appear. “It is definitely necessary to be investigated by the authorities, even if a geologist does not intervene,” he said.