Seismic tremors have continued in the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos in the last few hours, with 16 of them measuring above four on the Richter scale.
During the night, dozens of seismic tremors were recorded, one measuring 4,4 on the Richter scale - which occurred off Santorini shortly before 2 am on Monday and according to the Geodynamic Institute, the epicenter of the tremor was located 22 km south of Amorgos and the focal depth was 10 km.
While at 04:35, another earthquake measuring 4,3 on the Richter scale was recorded in the underwater area between Santorini and Amorgos, 16 km north northwest of Anafi with a focal depth of 5 km, according to the Automatic Solution of the Geodynamic Institute.
Schools in Santorini, Amorgos, Ios, Anafi and Antiparos will remain closed today, while a team from the 1st EMAK and two teams from the 1st Special Forest Operations Unit have gone to Santorini as a precaution, as well as teams of rescuers and doctors, with ambulances and specialized equipment.
Citizens are urged to avoid gatherings in closed spaces and not to approach abandoned buildings.
As Professor of Natural Disasters K. Synolakis emphasized, speaking to ERTNews and on the show "Sunday Evening", no one can say with certainty what will happen. "We are monitoring the evolution of the phenomena."
In Santorini, which has quite old buildings, schools will not operate as a precaution, while citizens are urged to avoid large gatherings in closed spaces. The same will apply to Amorgos, Ios and Anafi, as the area has significant faults and the possibility of a strong earthquake cannot be ruled out.
Dozens of earthquakes after midnight
Dozens of seismic tremors were recorded after midnight in the underwater area between Santorini and Amorgos.
More specifically, over the last 48 hours, more than 200 earthquakes have been recorded between Thira and Amorgos. On Saturday, 85 earthquakes were recorded, while on Sunday, 78 tremors were recorded by noon, with seven of them measuring above 4 on the Richter scale.
Since January 24, in the sea area of Anydros, between Thira and Amorgos, a "great increase in seismicity" has been observed, with over 380 earthquakes recorded, Vasilis Karastathis, the director of the Geodynamic Institute, told APE-MPE yesterday Sunday, adding that scientists are "carefully monitoring the evolution of the phenomenon."
At the same time, the competent authorities are on alert. The president of the OASP, Efthymios Lekkas, convened a joint meeting of two scientific committees at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in the presence of Minister Vassilis Kikilias and other competent bodies.
Preventive measures suggested by scientists:
Avoiding gatherings in closed spaces
Avoiding approaching abandoned buildings
Avoid access to the ports of: Ammoudi, Armeni, Korfou, Old Port of Fira
On Monday, February 3, schools will remain closed in Thira, Anafi, Ios and Amorgos.
Panagiotis Karydis, professor of earthquake-resistant construction, spoke on the ERTNews Newsroom show, emphasizing: "Buildings located on the "eyebrow" in Santorini may be at risk from strong vibrations. There are few buildings that have been designed according to modern earthquake-resistant regulations, and if we followed them, buildings probably would not be able to be built on the "eyebrow" of Santorini. Caves are the most stable. In addition, people should avoid walking too close to the buildings. We should also remove anything that protrudes from the face of the building."
Geophysics professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Kostas Papazachos, spoke to ERTNews this morning, explaining that the sequence is intense in the area of Anydros, a small island between Santorini and Amorgos, at a distance of around 20-25 kilometers from Santorini. "It is a typical seismic sequence, but it has very intense characteristics. Such sequences can often turn out to be clusters, with a stronger earthquake, but not very large."
A team from the 1st EMAK with a rescue dog and 2 teams from the 1st Special Forestry Operations Unit, as well as a team of drone operators and aerial rescuers, have traveled to the island of Santorini as a precaution.
Authorities in Santorini are on alert, while certain precautionary measures have been taken.
What was said at the meeting in Maximos about earthquakes?
The emergency meeting at the Maximos Mansion lasted approximately two hours, regarding the continuous earthquakes in the area between Santorini and Amorgos.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was attended by Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Dimitris Choupis, Thanasis Ganas of the Geodynamic Institute and Professor of Natural Disasters Kostas Synolakis. Efthimis Lekkas and Kostas Papazachos participated via video conference from Santorini.
Shortly after the end of the meeting, Vasilis Kikilias made statements. "The meeting under the Prime Minister has been completed. He was informed, as were all the other attendees, by our scientific team. Information will of course be provided continuously. All elements of seismic activity are being examined. The measures that have been taken so far are preventive, you understand. In any case, information will be provided continuously to everyone, since, as you can see, the Seismic Risk Assessment Committee is constantly meeting. I very much ask, as always, our fellow citizens to listen to the measures of the experts and comply with them, so that we can deal with the current situation. The measures are preventive. There is alertness, and organization, as you can see, in the field. The experts have also made their positions public, as you can see. "Because there is a Committee with scientists handling this specific issue, I would like to make a warm request to everyone, in the context of valid and correct information: Let's give a voice to those people who really know the facts," said the Minister of Civil Protection.
Synolakis: There is preparation, there is vigilance
Shortly after the end of the meeting, Kostas Synolakis, professor of Natural Disasters, who participated in the meeting, told ERTnews that "there is preparation and vigilance. There are three phenomena that we are examining:
earthquakes in the area,
the underwater volcano of Columbus,
the underwater volcano of Santorini.
"The measurements will show which of these phenomena will potentially give us a phenomenon that can affect people."
Mr. Synolakis also said that "we know that Santorini must be monitored. The seismic activity will not magically end in the coming days. What worries us is the uniqueness of the area."
The preventive measures
At a meeting today at the Ministry of Climate Crisis, it was decided to implement new preventive measures in Santorini, Anafi, Ios and Amorgos.
Thus, schools will remain closed tomorrow, Monday 3/2, in Santorini, Ios, Amorgos and Anafi, while citizens should:
Avoid large gatherings inside buildings.
Avoid approaching abandoned buildings.
Avoid accessing and staying in the ports of Ammoudi, Armeni, Korfou and the Old Port of Fira.
To proceed with the removal of dangerous non-structural vulnerability elements in their buildings and the emptying of water in swimming pools.
To choose safe routes when moving within the urban fabric and the provincial road network, especially in areas where there are sharp morphological gradients and landslides are likely to occur.
There should be immediate evacuation from coastal areas in the event of strong seismic shaking.
The Fire Department is on general alert.
Also, due to the increased seismic activity in the sea area of Anydros, between Santorini and Amorgos, the Fire Brigade has taken preventive actions.
Specifically:
The Regional Fire Department (P.E.P.Y.D.) of the South Aegean has been placed on general alert. The Regional Commander has gone to the island of Thira as head of the firefighting forces.
Yesterday, one (1) team from the 1st E.M.A.K. with a rescue dog and two (2) teams from the 1st E.M.O.D.E. flew to the island of Thira on an emergency flight (ATR).
Today, a Fire Department helicopter, a team of drone operators with their equipment, and aerial rescuers arrived on the island of Thira.
The meeting at the Maximos Mansion under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been completed due to the seismic activity recorded in the maritime area of Anydros, between Thira and Amorgos. During the meeting, as stated by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, he was informed, as were all the other attendees, by their scientific team. “Information will of course be provided continuously. All the elements of the seismic activity are being examined. The measures that have been taken so far are preventive,” stressed Mr. Kikilias and added that in any case, information will be provided continuously and for everyone, since, as he said, the Seismic Risk Assessment Committee is meeting continuously. “I beg you very much, as always, our fellow citizens, to listen to the measures of the experts and comply with them, so that we can deal with the current situation. "The measures are preventive," he pointed out and noted that there is alertness and organization in the field.
"The experts have also taken a public position," he said and emphasized: "Because there is a committee and specific scientists who are handling this specific issue, I would like to make a warm request to everyone, within the context of valid and correct information, to give a platform to those people who really know the facts."
Life on the island returns to normal - Installation of tents for the accommodation of EMAK and EMODE executives
Life on the island of Santorini continues as normal. Residents are calm, cars are moving around with great frequency, while cafes are full. Residents told ERTNews that they are not worried, as they are used to seismic vibrations, but they remain cautious in case of stronger tremors.
The tents have been placed at the Santorini Sports Center facilities to house the EMAK and EMODE units, which is happening according to protocol. It is not for people to stay in case of a major earthquake.
At the same time, the municipality announced the gathering points where people will gather in case of an emergency.
Source: ertnews
