Earthquakes in Santorini took the tourist island of Greece by surprise. In the last 48 hours, more than 7000 people left the place due to this unprecedented phenomenon.
According to statistics, 5755 people took the ferries departing from the island, while around 1294 flew to Athens, according to the numbers provided by the airline Aegean Airlines.
This air departure was carried out in nine flights, but only four were scheduled. These were joined by five more due to the high demand.
Earthquakes in Santorini: what happened and how they explain the phenomenon
Since 1964, earthquakes in the area have been studied at the Geodynamic Institute of the Athens Observatory. However, from that date until now, there are no similar records in this area.
There were more than 180 movements recorded daily since Sunday, and more than half exceeded magnitude 3. Around the island of Santorini, 750 earthquakes were felt between January 24 and February 4.
In this sense, Kostas Papazachos, a seismology professor, stated: “we do not have a main earthquake; it is a sequence of numerous earthquakes.”
It is believed that the constant earthquakes are not linked to the volcanic activity of the island but to submarine faults in the area.
There are five faults of more than 20 kilometers each, capable of producing earthquakes up to a magnitude of 7.3. One like this was recorded near Amorgos in 1956, producing a tsunami of 30 meters and causing the death of 53 people.
However, according to the Geology professor Dimitris Papanikoláu, the fault that produces these earthquakes is more to the west, and its dimensions could not produce an earthquake greater than a magnitude of 6, in the worst-case scenario.
The strongest tremor in the last hours reached a magnitude of 4.9, with the epicenter between Santorini and the neighboring island of Anafi.
How long can the phenomenon last
Scientists assured that this seismic activity could last for weeks, although “the scenario of earthquakes of magnitude 6 and above remains unlikely.”
This was estimated by the President of the Organization for Planning and Seismic Protection, Efthymios Lekkas. They explained that these tremors are a phenomenon called “seismic swarm,” which means that a much larger earthquake is not expected.
The seismic swarm differs from earthquakes that occur with a series of aftershocks, as there is no single earthquake observed in the sequence of tremors that can be defined as the main movement.
The Fire Department arrived on the island on Sunday and set up tents to assist those who need to leave their homes.
Massive Exodus
Planes and ferries from Santorini arrive in Athens completely full, while a large crowd waits at the port to board.
As a preventive measure, the Government decided to close the schools in Santorini and Anafi until Friday. Some of these schools have cracks due to the recent earth movements.
The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, asked the inhabitants of the island to “remain calm.”
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