Santorini Faces Increasing Seismic Threat Amidst Recent Earthquake Surge

Amidst a crisis of seismic activity, Santorini experienced the strongest earthquake recently at a 5.3 magnitude, following a series of smaller tremors that have struck the area. Authorities remain cautious, as residents leave the islands and inspections reveal no significant damage, while experts consider the possibility of a major quake in the future.

Santorini has been shaken by a powerful 5.3 magnitude earthquake—the strongest event recorded amidst a significant seismic crisis affecting the island. This quake, occurring at a depth of 17 km (10.6 miles), was felt as far away as Athens on Monday evening. Residents of the nearby Amorgos Island remain vigilant following this recent tremor, which comes on the heels of a moderate 5.0 magnitude earthquake that struck over the weekend.

The popular tourist destination has experienced a surge in seismic activity since early January, with over 12,800 quakes reported by the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory. Local residents are taking precautions, with some patrolling precarious areas to keep tourists from venturing too close to cliffs. The relentless tremors have caused landslides across the island, heightening fears of further risks. While experts initially expected the tremors to lessen, concerns are now rising that the seismic events are escalating instead. A state of emergency remains in effect on Santorini through at least March 3.

The latest quake followed three smaller quakes exceeding 4.0 magnitude, with three more such events occurring early on Monday. Fortunately, inspections in Santorini and Amorgos have shown no significant damage to buildings, nor have any injuries been reported. Despite the quakes, more than 11,000 residents have evacuated the islands. As a precaution, schools will remain closed on Santorini, Amorgos, and several other nearby islands.

A team from the Special Disaster Response Unit has been deployed to Amorgos to assist with any potential emergencies, and technical teams are set to evaluate the electricity network on the island. Although Kostas Papazachos, a seismology professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, noted the need for patience as the situation may persist throughout February, he stressed the potential for a significant earthquake is still a concern.

Meanwhile, the cruise ship Viking Star, carrying 893 passengers and 470 crew members, rerouted to Crete to avoid potential congestion at Santorini's cable car due to the seismic unrest. Prior to the recent quake, the strongest event recorded was 5.2 magnitude.

Greece, one of the most earthquake-prone regions in Europe, has been perplexed by these "clusters" of quakes that do not correlate with any major tectonic shifts. The volcanic landscape of Santorini, part of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, has not seen a major eruption since the 1950s, and officials differentiate the recent tremors as being due to tectonic plate movements rather than volcanic activity. Predicting the timing or magnitude of future earthquakes remains a scientific challenge. From late January to early February, the Seismology Laboratory registered an unprecedented number of quakes in the Santorini-Amorgos zone.