## 5 Conclusions  
Seismological analysis and geodetic results from continuous GNSS stations were combined to study the spatiotemporal evolution of seismic activity and ground deformation in the Ionian Islands during the period from 2014 to 2018, characterized by the occurrence of strong earthquakes in Cephalonia, Lefkada and Zakynthos Islands. Low seismicity was observed in the north Ionian Sea, where the collision between the Apulian platform and the Hellenic foreland is taking place. The velocity field of the area, deduced by stations on Corfu and Paxoi Islands, shows horizontal NW motion, transverse to the collision front. The vertical component reveals a subsiding pattern, compatible with the convergence process in the area. The CLTFZ feature offshore of the central Ionian Islands of Cephalonia and Lefkada is the prevailing structure, generating the strong and intense seismic activity observed in the region. The 2014 Mw6.1 and Mw5.9 earthquakes occurred on an adjacent local faulting zone, causing strong ground displacement on the island but not in the broader area. The seismic sequence following these two events expanded in the vicinity of the activated area along the Paliki peninsula, and offshore northwards. Few months later, on 17 November 2015, another strong earthquake (Mw6.4) occurred on or parallel to the Lefkada segment of the CLTFZ. Co-seismic displacement was recorded in almost all the southern Ionian Islands, highlighting the regional character of the seismogenic source. The post-seismic activity expanded along the CLTFZ and southwards in the same area as the 2014 sequence. The temporal evolution of the post-seismic activity and the ground deformation show a long relaxation period. However, the motional pattern obtains its pre-seismic character earlier (August 2016) compared to the respective seismic excitation. The seismic activity reaches its background levels (0.1-0.2 events/day) after a longer period, between late 2016 and mid-2017. The two seismic sequences are linked in space and time, with the 2014 activity likely accelerating the 2015 event. The October 2018 Mw6.7 Zakynthos earthquake occurred close to the northwestern tip of the Hellenic Arc. Strong ground displacement took place on the near-field GNSS stations, as well as on Cephalonia Island and the Peloponnese. The seismic sequence expanded in the vicinity of the epicentral area, but mainly offshore south and west of Zakynthos. The motion field of the stations in Zakynthos and the western Peloponneseshowed significant alterations with respect to the pre-seismic period, on both north and east motional components, which regained its anticipated pattern about eight months after the mainshock. However, the seismicity rate has remained at higher values, compared to the background activity (0.2 events/day), for more than three years. Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment was performed in the Ionian Islands to estimate PGA and PGV for a return period of 475 years. The smallest values were obtained, as anticipated, for the northern Ionian Islands, corelating with the low seismicity of the area. However, the calculated PGA values in Cephalonia and Ithaca are significantly higher and well exceed the ones proposed by the current Greek Building Code. Based on the herein-performed PSHA analysis, a finer, more detailed zonation of the area and re-evaluation of the PGA values provided by the Building Code must be considered in the future. The following supporting information can be downloaded at: [[https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app12052331/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app12052331/s1)]([https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app12052331/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app12052331/s1)), Figure S1: Time series for station KERK on Corfu Island, and PAXO on Paxoi Island; Figure S2: Time series for station SPAN and PONT on the northern and southern part of Lefkada, respectively; Figure S3: Time series for station KTCH in Western Greece and PAT0 on the NW Peloponnese, in the city of Patras. Conceptualization, V.S.