Seismic tremors continue in the Cyclades, along with the disruption of the few residents who have remained on the islands.
A new earthquake measuring 4,9 on the Richter scale occurred at 13:23 in Amorgos. The epicenter of the earthquake is located 11 km south of Arkesini, Amorgos. The focal depth of the tremor is estimated at 17,7 km, which is why it was felt even in areas of Attica.
Within 4 minutes, another earthquake of magnitude 3,8 Richter occurred, 11 km south, southeast of Arkesini, while 20 minutes after the 4,9 Richter, another tremor of magnitude 4,2 Richter was recorded.
Last night, two earthquakes measuring 4,7 and 5 on the Richter scale occurred, while at least 11.700 earthquakes were measured by the Seismology Laboratory of the University of Athens in the last 15 days.
Experts emphasize that patience will be needed, as the seismic sequence will not de-escalate overnight.
The seismic sequence will not de-escalate overnight, but it will take time, Kostas Papazachos told ERTNews this morning, referring to the 5 Richter magnitude earthquakes that occurred last night. “We must necessarily move with a scenario that all of February or a large part of it will pass with a similar situation and let us hope that we will slowly move towards a gradual de-escalation. We will have to be patient and see. Let us hope that after a couple of weeks the phenomenon will start to subside,” he noted.
"It is too early to know when this seismic swarm will stop. The last time, in 2011, it lasted almost a year in total," said Konstantinos Synolakis, a professor at the University of Southern California and member of the Academy of Athens.
"We have a decrease in the seismicity rate, but what we need to do is make sure that the sequence will continue to decrease in the coming days," emphasized Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute, speaking to Update and Kostas Laskaratos, and added that "if it has started since Friday, which in all likelihood seems to have decreased, it is good news that we will have an end to this crisis sooner."
Two state-of-the-art seismographs were installed in the Caldera
Scientists are seeking to obtain new data, which will help in a better understanding of the seismic phenomenon in the Cyclades, from the two portable underwater seismographs, which were collected this morning from the Caldera. At the same time, two more state-of-the-art seismographs were installed, which will remain there for a week. These are state-of-the-art seismographs, which took the place of the other two, which have been collecting data for seven days.
For this reason, the scientific team of the professor of Geological Oceanography of the National University of Athens, Evi Nomikou, was in Santorini today. This is another weapon in the quiver of scientists, as well as with the Geographical Service of the Army, which is on the island and is making measurements in the gravitational field, data from both the sea and the land will be studied. The data will go to the National Observatory so that scientists can explain this phenomenon, which has so upset our country.
“The Army Geographic Service has brought a special gravimeter, which will take measurements in Nea Kameni. They have also taken measurements in Santorini and the gravity results will be compared with the previous analyses of 2011 and 2012. Various satellite images will be taken at triangulated points and we will also retrieve the high-tech underwater seismographs to obtain the data, to give them to the National Observatory, so that they can be analyzed together with the data from the seismographs located throughout the island,” noted Ms. Nomikou, speaking to ERTNews.
Professor of Geological Oceanography at the National University of Athens Evi Nomikos appealed to all journalists to take a more careful approach to the phenomenon. She noted that both Oia and Imerovigli, as well as other areas during the winter, are indeed not very crowded and these images are not as unprecedented as they are sometimes presented. But also regarding the landslides, for example, on the Red Beach, it had never happened before. They were from previous years, as she explained.
Source: ertnews
