Greece has declared a state of emergency on the popular tourist island of Santorini after a series of earthquakes rocked the region for more than a week. The strongest tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, struck Wednesday, February 5, raising concerns about the island’s stability. About one-third of Santorini’s 15,000 residents have already been forced to evacuate. Smaller tremors continue to be recorded, keeping the local population on edge.
Potential volcanic eruption
Santorini is home to an active volcano, raising concerns that the recent seismic activity could signal a potential eruption. There are 20 known super volcanoes worldwide, including the massive magma chamber beneath Yellowstone National Park in the United States and the Campi Flegrei caldera near Naples, Italy. To be classified as a super volcano, a volcanic system must have the potential to produce an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).
Santorini lies approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) from Türkiye’s Bodrum coastline.
The island’s last recorded volcanic eruption occurred in 1950. Over the past year, scientists have observed increased volcanic activity in the area, but it remains uncertain whether the ongoing tremors signal a major event or are merely aftershocks with no long-term consequences.
Uncertainty surrounding duration of earthquakes
Predicting the duration of the seismic activity remains difficult. The recent 5.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday night has heightened concerns among both residents and experts. Professor Joanna Faure Walker of the Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction at University College London (UCL) has noted that while small tremors can precede larger earthquakes, the current pattern in Santorini does not entirely align with previously studied cases.
Authorities have warned residents that the seismic activity could continue for days or even weeks. Police and military personnel have been deployed to the area as a precautionary measure. For now, Santorini’s future remains uncertain, with residents, businesses, and experts anxiously awaiting further developments.
Türkiye holds emergency meeting on Santorini seismic activity, potential risks
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) convened a high-level meeting on Feb. 7 to assess ongoing seismic activity near Greece‘s Santorini Island and its potential risks for Türkiye.
Officials reported that the number of earthquakes exceeding magnitude 3.0 had reached 761, with the strongest recorded at magnitude 5.2.
According to AFAD, seismic activity has been escalating in the Aegean Sea, with tremors centered approximately 25 kilometers northeast of Santorini.
Earthquakes in the region range in depth from 5 to 25 kilometers, with the closest tremor to Türkiye’s coastline occurring 140 kilometers offshore.
The ongoing activity is concentrated near the Kolumbo submarine volcano, which last erupted in 1950.
Potential tsunami and volcanic hazards
AFAD’s statement emphasized that while the likelihood of a volcanic eruption remains low, historical data indicates that a major eruption could disperse fine volcanic ash over a wide area. Additionally, experts warned of potential tsunami risks in the event of a powerful earthquake in the region.
The assessment referenced a 1956 earthquake on the Amorgos Fault, which had a magnitude of 7.5 and triggered significant tsunami waves.
The quake storm in the Aegean Sea is not only a public safety issue, but may impact the upcoming tourism season. Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in Greece, while Turkey’s most visited sun and beach sports, like Bodrum and Kusadasi, not to mention others are within the radius of a potential tsunami.
Turkiye Today
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santorini quake risk
