Seismic Crisis on Santorini: Thousands Evacuate Amid Intense Earthquake Activity
In a dramatic turn of events, approximately 9,000 residents—over a third of Santorini's population—have evacuated the Greek island amidst a surge of seismic activity. The Greek government has activated emergency protocols, anticipating further evacuations on Tuesday as the maritime waters between Santorini and Amorgos have experienced more than 1,200 earthquakes since January 24, according to the Seismology Laboratory of the University of Athens.
On a particularly active Tuesday, around 100 tremors were recorded, with the most significant measuring a magnitude of 5, occurring at 1:04 PM GMT, located 22 kilometers southwest of Amorgos. The chaos surrounding the evacuation has led to school closures in Santorini, Amorgos, Ios, and Anafi, set to last until the following Friday. In at least nine other islands within the archipelago affected by the tremors, classes have also been suspended.
Santorini, renowned for its stunning landscapes and tourism appeal, is currently grappling with major traffic congestion as residents, workers, and tourists rush to leave the island. Ferries and flights bound for Athens are completely booked, with the Greek airline Aegean responding by scheduling eight flights from Santorini—four regular and four extraordinary—in an effort to accommodate over 1,400 passengers.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has addressed the nation, urging calm while assuring that authorities are adeptly managing this significant geological upheaval. Special firefighting teams have been dispatched as a precautionary measure, although, as of now, there have been no reports of severe damage, aside from some minor landslides in the Santorini caldera.
Experts from the Geodynamic Institute have weighed in on the underlying causes of this upheaval. They emphasize that the current seismic activity is not directly linked to the island's volcano but rather to underwater faults that extend over 20 kilometers. These faults have the potential to generate earthquakes up to 7.3 in magnitude, reminiscent of the devastating earthquake of 1956 near Amorgos that resulted in a 30-meter tsunami and claimed 53 lives.
However, Geology Professor Dimitris Papanikoláu has noted that the current fault lies further west and is unlikely to produce earthquakes greater than 6 in magnitude. Athanasios Ganás from the Geodynamic Institute defined the phenomenon as a 'seismic swarm,' characterized by an array of tremors without a definitive main earthquake.
This type of seismic activity can persist for days or even weeks, raising concerns among the residents. Authorities remain vigilant, closely monitoring the situation while ramping up evacuation and preventative efforts on the islands affected by the seismic activity.
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