Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived today on the island of Santorini, in the region where increased seismic activity has been observed in the past few days, ANA-MPA news agency reported. Mitsotakis is accompanied by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias.
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was registered today at 9:16 a.m. 27 km east-northeast of the village of Oia on the island of Santorini, ANA-MPA reported, citing the Institute of Geodynamics of the National Observatory in Athens.
At 6:56 a.m. A 4.1 magnitude earthquake was registered at sea 23 km southwest of the village of Arkesini on the island of Amorgos, the Geodynamics Institute reported.
Another earthquake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, was registered earlier - at 5:35 a.m. south of Amorgos.
At 6:25 a.m., an earthquake was felt in the region of Achaia, Ilia and Aetolia-Acarnania on the Peloponnese peninsula. According to the Geodynamics Institute, it had a magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale and an epicenter in the sea 8 km west-southwest of the city of Patras. The quake struck at a depth of 31 km.
More than 7,700 earthquakes were recorded in the seismic zone between the islands of Santorini and Amorgos between January 26 and February 4, with 6,100 of them measuring above 1, according to data from the University of Athens' seismological laboratory. More than 1,300 tremors were detected on Tuesday, with the strongest measuring between 4.9 and 5. The tremors shifted northeast on Wednesday, with the strongest quake measuring 5.1, the data showed.
Seismologist Costas Papazachos, who monitors the situation on Santorini, said the possibility of a major earthquake in the Cyclades region could not be ruled out, despite recent changes in seismic activity, the newspaper reported. „Kathimerini“.
Professor Papazachos said that the newly installed equipment in the area will provide clearer data to the scientific community.
Based on historical and scientific data so far, the seismologist believes that the earthquakes will not trigger a volcanic eruption, but the possibility of a major earthquake in the Cyclades region cannot be ruled out.
Kostas Papazachos assured the public that Santorini's infrastructure is well prepared for earthquakes. He indicated that engineers in the area have assured him that most buildings are structurally sound and built to withstand earthquakes.
The professor expects seismic activity to continue.