Santorini and its neighboring islands have been rocked by over 12,800 quakes in the past two weeks, including a recent 5.3 magnitude shake. Authorities remain on high alert as residents take precautions and tourists flee, with a state of emergency in effect until at least early March.
Santorini Faces Intensified Seismic Activity: Over 12,800 Quakes Recorded
Santorini Faces Intensified Seismic Activity: Over 12,800 Quakes Recorded
The Greek island of Santorini continues to experience a surge in seismic disturbances, prompting urgent safety measures as thousands flee amidst rising fears of further tremors.
Santorini has recently been the epicenter of significant seismic upheaval, with a powerful 5.3 magnitude earthquake striking the island, marking the strongest tremor recorded amid ongoing seismic activity. The quake, occurring at a shallow depth of 17 km (10.6 miles), was felt as far away as Athens on Monday evening. The nearby island of Amorgos is on high alert following a preceding 5.0 magnitude quake that occurred on Sunday.
The popular tourist destination has seen an alarming uptick in seismic disturbances since January, with more than 12,800 quakes documented by the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory. As safety precautions are implemented, some local residents have taken to patrolling perilous cliff areas to prevent tourists from taking photos in risky locations. The frequency and intensity of these quakes have caused landslides across various parts of Santorini, and although no buildings have suffered structural damage, a major earthquake has not been ruled out.
Authorities fear that seismic activity may continue to escalate, despite initial hopes for a decline. A state of emergency is set to remain in effect on Santorini through at least March 3, with schools temporarily closed across Santorini, Amorgos, and several adjacent islands on Monday and Tuesday. Emergency response units have activated, dispatching teams equipped for earthquake rescue to Amorgos, while other technical teams prepare for inspections of the region's electrical infrastructure.
Kostas Papazachos, a seismology professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, suggested maintaining patience as the situation develops, expressing cautious optimism for a potential reduction in seismic activity as February progresses. The possibility of a more significant earthquake remains a concern.
In an unexpected turn of events, the cruise ship Viking Star, with 893 passengers and 470 crew, changed its route and docked at the port of Souda in Crete instead of Santorini to avoid the cable car congestion amidst the ongoing seismic disturbances. The strongest earthquake thus far was recorded at a 5.2 magnitude on Thursday, with quakes measuring 6.0 or above classified as severe.
Greece, known for its earthquake susceptibility, has scientists puzzled by the current cluster of quakes that have not yet signaled a major seismic event. While Santorini lies along the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, characterized by volcanic activity, recent tremors have been attributed to tectonic plate movements rather than volcanic eruptions. As seismic prediction remains elusive, concerns persist regarding potential escalation in the Santorini-Amorgos zone. From January 26 to February 8, 2025, the Seismology Laboratory of the University of Athens reported over 12,800 earthquakes within this region.
