Seismic activity around the Greek island of Santorini intensified on February 9, with a 5.0 magnitude earthquake recorded at 21:05, 15 km southwest of Arkessini, Amorgos, according to SKAI. The tremor was the strongest since the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred on February 5, raising concerns among residents and experts about the potential for a larger seismic event.
Vasilis Karastathis, Director of the Geodynamic Institute, expressed cautious optimism about the recent seismic developments. "Since the day before yesterday, a better rhythm has started, a slower rhythm in the earthquakes. This has been maintained," he said. He emphasized that the possibility of a larger earthquake was not excluded.
The seismic activity led to widespread anxiety among the local population. Residents of Santorini and neighboring islands like Amorgos prepared for any eventuality, with many keeping emergency bags in their cars at night, as reported by SKAI. The continued tremors also prompted evacuations, with thousands of inhabitants and tourists leaving the island over the past weeks.
Professor of Anti-Seismic Constructions, Panagiotis Karydis, highlighted the importance of the earthquake's epicenter in determining potential damage. "An earthquake from the northeastern side of Santorini, at 6 Richter, in my opinion, will create much smaller problems than one at 4.5-5 Richter from the area of the Caldera," he told SKAI.
Experts closely monitored the situation, with additional seismographs being installed to provide a better understanding of the seismic activity. Oceanographic studies were also planned to determine the underlying causes of the continuous tremors on the island.
The seismic swarm began on January 26, and since then, thousands of earthquakes were recorded in the region. According to Kathimerini, over 7,700 earthquakes were detected in the Santorini-Amorgos zone, with nearly 6,000 recorded in the maritime area of Santorini and its neighboring islands.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos analyzed the seismic sequence. "We have reached the critical point. We have the first case, if the 5.2 Richter was the main one," said. He noted that ongoing analysis was needed to determine whether the seismic activity was decreasing.
Concerns were not limited to Greece. Reports about the seismic activity in Santorini heightened fears in Israel of a tsunami reaching its shores. Israel convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to prepare for a potential tsunami, with the Deputy Head assessing the level of threat alongside government agencies [https://www.blic.rs/vesti/svet/naucnici-predvidjaju-potres-od-6-rihtera-na-santoriniju-panika-medju-stanovnicima/nt4dw94].
Dr. Efraim Laor,said the chances of a tsunami wave reaching Israel from Greece were minimal. "In any case, if an earthquake of more than 6.5 degrees occurs on the island, then there will definitely be a tsunami, but it is not at all certain that it will reach Israel," he stated.
The geological complexities of the region are considerable. The area between Santorini and Amorgos is "very active" and well known to seismologists, with large faults that cut the Earth's crust, indicating tectonic activity, according to Terra.
Historical precedents added to the concern. In 1956, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction across Santorini, Crete, and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, including a tsunami nearly 30 meters high.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq