The Foreign Office has issued travel advice for Santorini and Amorgos following increased seismic activity in the region. It comes after a number of earthquakes have been recorded in the area
The Foreign Office has issued a fresh travel alert in response to detected seismic activity. The advisory, released on Saturday, pertains to Santorini and Amorgos, where heightened earthquake activity has been observed.
The regions have experienced an uptick in seismic events, with numerous minor tremors recorded in Santorini, Amorgos, and neighbouring islands. An earthquake registering 3.9 on the Richter scale struck at 12:16pm, as reported by Greek media. The epicentre was located 25 km north-northwest of Anafi, at a depth of 15 km. A series of aftershocks, measuring between 2 and 3 on the Richter scale, have followed.
Shortly after another quake with a 3.1 magnitude was recorded 18 km south-southeast of Arkesini, Amorgos. Earlier on Saturday, weak tremors were reported almost simultaneously in Amorgos and Santorini, reports the Express.
The strongest earthquake recorded over the weekend was a magnitude of 4.6 at 3.55pm on Sunday, at a depth of nine miles, the Athens Geodynamic institute said.
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As a result of the recent increased seismic activity authorities have shut down schools, dispatched rescue teams with sniffer dogs and sent instructions to residents – including a request to drain their swimming pools. Island residents have been advised to avoid large open-air events and to move about the islands mindful of rockfalls.
Authorities and experts said the tremors were triggered by tectonic rather than volcanic activity – dampening fears of a destructive eruption. But Kostas Papazachos, Professor of Geophysics at Thessaloniki Aristotle University , explained a stronger earthquake could not be ruled out due to there being several significant fault lines in the surrounding seas, according to MailOnline.
Santorini Volcano, site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history around 1620 BC, reshaped the island and is believed to have contributed to the downfall of the ancient Minoan civilization. Despite being an active volcano, its last significant eruption was in 1950.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos, speaking to state broadcaster ERT, reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm. He stated: “There have indeed been many earthquakes, especially over the past week. Since early January, but particularly this past week, we have recorded over 150 to 200 tremors.
“Only a few have occurred directly on the island of Santorini. Most of them are located northeast, about 10 to 30 kilometers away.”
