Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Santorini, Greece’s famed island destination, has been rocked by more than 200 earthquakes in the past few days, raising concerns about a potential natural disaster. The strongest quake, measuring 4.8 magnitude, struck the sea between Santorini and Amorgos on Monday (February 3).
Greece, located on multiple fault lines, frequently experiences seismic activity. In recent weeks, tremors have been gradually shaking the island.
According to The Guardian, more than 200 undersea tremors rattled Santorini over the weekend, most occurring in the waters between the island and Amorgos, the easternmost isle of the Cyclades, with several quakes exceeding a magnitude of 4.
Greek authorities remain on heightened alert as scientists describe the ongoing tremors as a “barrage” of seismic activity. “It appears a seismic fault line has been activated and could cause an earthquake above magnitude 6,” said seismologist Prof. Manolis Skordylis in a public radio interview, as reported by The Guardian. “We haven’t had the main earthquake yet.”
Therefore, fears of a larger earthquakes have prompted residents, tourists, and workers to flee Santorini, with ferries and planes quickly filling up.
In an update on Monday (February 3), Vassilis Karastathis, director of the Institute of Geodynamics at the National Observatory of Athens, told Greek media that “seismic activity continues at a steady pace with the same intensity.”
Seismic Activity
Previously on Wednesday (January 29), local officials and experts convened at the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection to discuss the surge in seismic activity. Santorini, a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea, is built around an underwater caldera, raising fears of potential volcanic activity.
However, according to experts, the recent earthquakes in Santorini have been triggered by tectonic movement rather than volcanic activity, alleviating fears of volcanic activity and concerns of an imminent eruption.
“We expect this activity to continue for several days, possibly resulting in a prolonged seismic sequence,” said Efthymios Lekkas, a professor of tectonic geology and disaster management, as reported by CNBC Indonesia.
Precautionary Measures in Place
By order of Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry, schools in Santorini and the surrounding islands of Ios, Anafi, and Amorgos will remain closed until Friday (February 7) . The Greek government has also advised residents to avoid large indoor gatherings, stay away from Santorini’s ports, and avoid older buildings due to structural risks. Authorities have also warned of potential tsunami threats in smaller ports.
In the event of a major earthquake, residents have been advised to seek higher ground and move inland as far as possible. The same precautionary measures have been extended to Amorgos and other nearby islands.
As part of emergency preparedness efforts, tents and rescue teams have already been deployed to Santorini and surrounding islands. Search-and-rescue teams equipped with sniffer dogs, helicopters, and drones are on standby in the southern Aegean region.
Greek Prime Minister Calls for Calm
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the public to remain calm during a speech on Monday, stating that authorities were closely monitoring the “intense geological phenomenon” of the past few days.
Santorini, one of Greece’s top tourist destinations, welcomed 3.4 million visitors in 2023. Aegean Airlines, Greece’s largest carrier, also added two extra flights on Monday and another on Tuesday to facilitate the departure of residents and visitors from Santorini.
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Meanwhile, several European nations have issued travel advisories for their citizens. The United Kingdom and France, for instance, have urged travelers to follow guidance from local authorities.
As tremor and earthquakes continues to rock Santorini, authorities continues to monitor the seismic activity in Santorini, Meanwhile the government already put preparedness measures in cases major earthquake to happen on the island.
(Raidi/Agung)
