Greek authorities stepped up relief efforts for earthquake stricken Cephalonia on Tuesday, declaring the island a natural disaster zone to ease access to funds in order to repair damages in buildings and infrastructure.

The two strong tremors of 5.8 and 5.7 on the Richter scale which rocked the western Greece island in the Ionian Sea on January 26 and February 3 and the dozens of aftershocks caused no casualties.

However, they left behind about 600 buildings that need to be demolished, 1,100 with extensive damages and 1,400 with minor damages, according to the latest estimates by engineers of the Civil Protection Authority.

The announcement made by Infrastructure Minister Michalis Chryssohoidis following a symbolic ministerial meeting held in Cephalonia on Tuesday opens the way to assist the more than 1,000 left homeless with financial aid, including payment for two-year rents and low-interest loans for repairs in their homes.

In parallel, crews are focusing on the survey of damages and rebuilding efforts in infrastructures which have suffered damages from the quakes, such as a pier at the port town of Lixouri, part of a building at the island's airport, parts of the road network, a local hospital and a nursing home.

The target is to heal wounds as soon as possible so that residents can return back to normal life and so that there will be no impact on the tourism industry.

In the meantime, people who cannot return to their homes and spent the past few days and nights in cars, stadiums and boats are provided with emergency aid - food, bottled water, blankets and other supplies - by the local municipalities, the central government and non government groups.

But, the most significant element at the aftermath of the tremors for local officials is to "stay calm," as they stressed on Tuesday through a press release issued by the Municipality of Cephalonia which denounces "all irresponsible rumors that may trigger panic."

The statement came amidst claims by residents that a group of men posing as policemen told them to evacuate Lixouri "in time for the next strong tremor which is expected within a few minutes." A local prosecutor launched a probe into the case.

Cephalonia officials appear also angered at remarks made by some scientists who warn that the island may be hit by another big quake in the future. A Greek Professor told local media that a 7 Richter scale earthquake could strike Cephalonia and when asked to give a time framework he clarified that it could happen over the next decade.

In 1953, a 7.2 Richter tremor killed hundreds of people in the area and caused extensive material damages.

Greek seismologists at the Athens Geodynamic Institute who are closely monitoring the seismic activity underlined on Tuesday that they can not yet make any safe conclusions and estimates for the development in the area for coming days and weeks.