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Santorini continues to experience strong seismic activity that has been going on for over a week. The island has been shaken by hundreds of tremors, which has caused concern among experts and local authorities. Professor Costas Sinolakas, a natural disaster expert, named three possible scenarios. According to him, seismic activity could stop, as it did in 2011. Another option is that the current tremors could lead to a stronger earthquake. A third possible scenario is a small eruption of the Santorini volcano or the Columbo submarine volcano. This was reported by Kathimerini.
The expert stressed that there is no reason to panic, as Santorini has small eruptions approximately every fifty years. At the same time, scientists are still unable to give a clear answer as to how the situation will develop further. The worst-case scenario involves a possible earthquake with a tsunami, similar to the 1956 disaster, when 53 people died and more than a hundred were injured as a result of the 7.5 magnitude tremors. Sinolakas believes that such a scenario is possible, but assures us that he cannot imagine anything more massive than in 1956.
The Greek government has declared a state of emergency on the island, as well as on the neighbouring islands of Amorgos, Ios and Anafi. Over ten thousand people have been evacuated from Santorini in recent days. Schools have been closed, movement has been restricted, local authorities have warned of the risk of landslides, and rescue units, the army and police have been deployed in the region. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on residents to remain calm and follow the instructions of the civil protection service, assuring them that the state is ready for any development.
Experts have different opinions on the origin of the seismic activity and the possible consequences. Geophysicist Christian Gibscher believes that the tremors are caused by the movement of tectonic plates and are not related to volcanic activity. Instead, Greek geologist Abraham Zelilidis is convinced that these earthquakes are harbingers of the Santorini volcano eruption. He noted that, in his opinion, the eruption will take place, but he hopes that it will be minor.
The situation in Santorini has attracted the attention of neighbouring countries. France and Turkey are already considering introducing security measures, and UNESCO has previously warned of a high probability of a tsunami in the Mediterranean in the coming decades. In Israel, despite its distance from Santorini, preparations are underway for a possible earthquake that could cause a wave that could reach the Israeli coast. The country’s authorities claim that in case of danger, they will have about two hours to evacuate the population.
Seismologists warn that activity in the region could last for weeks or even months. At the same time, experts and the authorities emphasise that, despite the unpredictability of the situation, all necessary safety measures have already been taken.
