EARTHQUAKES rocking Santorini could trigger a volcano, experts fear, as residents and tourists continue to flee the holiday hotspot.
As seismic activity in Santorini and nearby islands grows more intense, these areas are experiencing frequent tremors, leading observers to describe the region as if it were “dancing.”
Between Friday and Tuesday, over 550 tremors have been registered in the sea surrounding Santorini, along with neighboring islands such as Amorgos and Ios.
Today, within a span of 50 minutes, Amorgos and Anafi felt a staggering total of six earthquakes, the most significant one reaching almost a magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale.
Despite suggestions of the quakes being linked to Santorini’s volcano initially getting shut down, experts who participated in meetings led by Greece’s Prime Minister argue otherwise.
Director of Research of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, Thanasis Ganas, said that all the efforts of the country and scientists are being made to prepare for the worst case scenario – a tsunami or volcanic eruption.
He said on Greece’s First Program: “Either we will have a series of aftershocks, meaning magnitudes that will be in the order of 4.5 to 4.7 [on the Richter scale] at most last night at 7:45 PM, or we will have a larger seismic tremor that could cause a tsunami and some volcanic eruption.
“So we are preparing for these scenarios.”
The expert explained that it’s currently unknown how the sequence of tremors will evolve between Santorini and Andydros, meaning that it’s a waiting game “to see the evolution of the phenomenon”.
Between Santorini there are various volcanoes that could erupt – but the most feared is the “very active” Kolumbo, just 8km northeast of the island.
Data shows an increase in gases from the volcano, with scientists paying close attention to see how it may develop.
On Monday there were 12 tremors above 4 on the Richter scale which marks a terrifying “intense development” that experts are having to watch closely.
If an earthquake between 5 and 6 were to occur, “it may create a landslide which may create a tsunami” which has been described as a “possible scenario”.
Director of the Geodynamic Institute of the Athens Observatory, Vasilis Karastathis, also warned on Monday that the quakes were “unusual,” especially in such a short period of time.
Phones on the island blared terrifying alert warnings about the slides as various earthquakes caused deafening rumbles.
Schools were closed and emergency crews deployed in Santorini as fears grew of devastation from the quakes.
Citizens and visitors have been speaking out about their fears from the quakes and consequential landslides – with over 9,000 to have fled Santorini in the past 24 hours.
Traffic has been piling up on the roads leading to the island’s port and the airport, with all flights departing full.
But those remaining in Santorini fear the constant seismic vibrations, with many sleeping in their cars or outdoors in case their homes were to collapse.
One resident, Michalis Gerontakis, said: “I have never felt anything like this and with such frequency – an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes.
“Everyone is anxious even if some of us hide it not to cause panic, but everyone is worried.”
Another local, Nadia Benomar, explained: “We’ve had earthquakes before but never anything like this. This feels different.”
Authorities have banned access to some spots by the sea, including Santorini’s famous old port, due to the close proximity to the cliffs.
Mr Ganas believes the “most likely thing” is for the sequence to “evolve without further escalation”.
Landslides began to devastate the beautiful Santorini coasts due to the intense tremors.
Unbelievable footage shows rocks dramatically fall, leaving behind large clouds of dust just along the edge of Santorini’s stunning, all-white landscape.
Rocks were also captured plummeting into the sea as residents and visitors watched on in horror.
