Earthquake on Santorini: Researchers warn of hidden dangers!

Earthquake on Santorini: Researchers warn of hidden dangers!

The Greek Cyclades island of Santorini has experienced a worrying series of earthquakes in the past few months that have caused both locals and tourists to leave the island. Over 2300 quake have been registered since January 2025, many of which have reached a magnitude of over 4. On February 4, the strongest quake was registered with a magnitude of 5.3 without any significant damage. The seismic activity has decreased in the past few days, but the Situation remains tense. According to op-online.de closed the schools until March 4, for possible damage examine and to protect the population.

The recent earthquakes on Santorini are part of a historically unusual seismic crisis that is worrying for the region, since such events have often led to volcanic eruptions in the past. Experts warn of a possible main quake of 6 or more that could trigger considerable damage and even a tsunami. The Greek authorities have caused these dangers to take precautions, including the closure of schools and a ban on human accumulation in closed rooms to ensure the safety of the population. The possibility of a tsunamis was emphasized by the installation of a tidal knife on the northeast coast of Santorini, which is intended to serve the early detection of tsunamis. Ingenieur.de reports of the diverse security measures that have been implemented in the region since the first traces of the earthquake activity.

seismic Swarms and Volcanic Risks

The geomechanical analyzes indicate that the decreasing seismic activity may signal a filling magma chamber. However, geomechanics expert Marco Bohnhoff warns of an early optimism and emphasizes that seismic activity also caused dangerous tremore and swarms that indicate a possible lava movement in the subsoil. These tremore are limited to the northeastern part of the island around the Kolumbos underwater volcano, which is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the area of Santorini. Bohnhoff refers to the possibility of a large -scale eruption, similar to the Minoian eruption 3500 years ago, which could have catastrophic consequences for the region. According to geomar.de , a crisis reaction was started in order to comprehensively monitor the geological risks and to collect precise data on seismic activity.

Seismic activity on Santorini is part of the geological conditions of the Hellenic island arch, in which the African plate pushes under the Aegean plate. These tectonic tensions are the cause of the recurring earthquake. Experts have also found an increase in the risk of slope slips in the steep coastal sections, which the security situation further complicated. The local government and tourism representatives are in a area of tension because they have to maintain the tourist attractiveness of the island and at the same time implement the necessary safety precautions.

tourism and security concerns

Despite the decreasing earthquake activity, tourism has changed significantly on Santorini. Hoteliers and landlords try to regain travelers through offers on social media. However, the President of the Vasilis Kasimatis tourism association occurs for a respectful way of dealing with the warnings of scientists and criticizes the cautious tones of seismologists like Akis Tselentis. Tselentis expresses serious concerns about the current seismic situation and warns of the potential risks for the population and tourists who are on the volcanic island

The special geological situation of Santorini and the associated dangers illustrate that despite the symptomatic calming of earthquake activity, there is still a latent threat to the island. Travelers should consider this and find out about the current situation before visiting the beautiful island. The discussions about the security situation continue to be intensively conducted. The next few days and weeks will be crucial for monitoring seismic activity on the volcanic island.