Santorini, a popular tourist destination, has been hit by a strong 5.3 magnitude earthquake, marking the most intense quake yet in a series of seismic events that have rattled the area over the past few weeks.
Strongest Quake Rattles Santorini Amid Ongoing Seismic Activity
Strongest Quake Rattles Santorini Amid Ongoing Seismic Activity
A powerful 5.3 magnitude earthquake strikes Santorini, prompting emergency responses and keeping residents on edge.
The tremors, with a focal depth of 17km, were felt as far away as Athens on Monday evening. This latest upheaval follows a 5.0 magnitude quake recorded the night before and comes amid a seismic crisis that has seen over 12,800 earthquakes detected in the Santorini-Amorgos region since the end of January. Local residents are taking precautionary measures, including patrolling precarious areas to discourage tourists from venturing close to unstable cliffs, as landslides have become increasingly common due to the persistent quakes.
Authorities in Santorini have declared a state of emergency lasting until at least March 3 and have closed schools on the island and surrounding areas. Fortunately, inspections have confirmed that there has been no significant damage or injuries reported, though some 11,000 individuals have evacuated the islands due to safety concerns.
In light of the situation, Greece’s Special Disaster Response Unit is dispatching rescue vehicles to Amorgos, and technical teams will inspect the islands' power networks. Seismologist Kostas Papazachos suggested that the area may continue to experience tremors throughout February but remains hopeful that the intensity will decrease soon.
Despite the ongoing crisis, the cruise ship Viking Star made a scheduled stop in Crete on Monday, opting to change its itinerary to avoid anticipated congestion in Santorini compounded by the seismic activity. Previous earthquakes in the series included a noticeable 5.2 magnitude quake last Thursday, although experts note that anything above magnitude 6 is deemed severe.
Greece, sitting on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, is no stranger to earthquakes; however, the recent clusters of tremors in Santorini have baffled scientists, as they have not correlated with known volcanic activity nor predicted a major earthquake. Concerns persist, with experts emphasizing that the exact nature and impact of these seismic events remain uncertain as they are typically linked to tectonic plate movements.
With hundreds still reeling from the disturbances, the local community remains resilient amidst uncertainty, with many monitoring the situation closely as they anticipate the seismic patterns may evolve in the coming weeks.
Authorities in Santorini have declared a state of emergency lasting until at least March 3 and have closed schools on the island and surrounding areas. Fortunately, inspections have confirmed that there has been no significant damage or injuries reported, though some 11,000 individuals have evacuated the islands due to safety concerns.
In light of the situation, Greece’s Special Disaster Response Unit is dispatching rescue vehicles to Amorgos, and technical teams will inspect the islands' power networks. Seismologist Kostas Papazachos suggested that the area may continue to experience tremors throughout February but remains hopeful that the intensity will decrease soon.
Despite the ongoing crisis, the cruise ship Viking Star made a scheduled stop in Crete on Monday, opting to change its itinerary to avoid anticipated congestion in Santorini compounded by the seismic activity. Previous earthquakes in the series included a noticeable 5.2 magnitude quake last Thursday, although experts note that anything above magnitude 6 is deemed severe.
Greece, sitting on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, is no stranger to earthquakes; however, the recent clusters of tremors in Santorini have baffled scientists, as they have not correlated with known volcanic activity nor predicted a major earthquake. Concerns persist, with experts emphasizing that the exact nature and impact of these seismic events remain uncertain as they are typically linked to tectonic plate movements.
With hundreds still reeling from the disturbances, the local community remains resilient amidst uncertainty, with many monitoring the situation closely as they anticipate the seismic patterns may evolve in the coming weeks.
