The Greek government's chief seismologist has reported that the frequency of earthquakes affecting Santorini and nearby islands has decreased in recent days. However, the outlook for continued tremors in the coming weeks remains uncertain.
The seismologist emphasized the need for patience, stating that seismic sequences do not resolve quickly and follow their own timeline. He expressed hope that the current sequence would end sooner rather than later.
A state of emergency has been declared on Santorini and neighboring islands due to a swarm of undersea earthquakes that have been occurring, with some felt every few minutes. This has led to the relocation of thousands of residents and workers to the Greek mainland.
Schools on the affected islands have been closed for three weeks, and precautionary measures, including the establishment of rescue teams and backup power generators, have been put in place by security services.
An emergency port facility is being set up on Santorini in preparation for a potential large-scale evacuation.
The seismologist, who is also a professor of geophysics, clarified that while Santorini's dormant volcano does not pose an immediate threat, magma is contributing to the ongoing seismic activity. He explained that the interaction of tectonic and magmatic processes is the root cause of the earthquakes.
Scientists are closely monitoring the situation by collecting data from various sensors, including seismographs, systems tracking ground deformation, gas emissions, and satellite data. Despite the current slight de-escalation of seismic activity, a definitive forecast is not yet possible, as it is too early to assess the situation.
Earthquakes with magnitudes of up to 5.1 were recorded in the undersea area bordered by Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi, the islands under a state of emergency.
