The enchanting Santorini has made headlines due to the seismic tempest shaking the island in the past weeks. Much has been said and written about this phenomenon, but how much of it is actually true?
To begin with, the truth is that the sudden increase in seismic activity has been going on for several months – approximately since June 2024 to be precise. Imperceptible at first, quakes have increased in both frequency and magnitude since the last days of January, causing concern among locals and visitors alike. Dozens of tremors ranging between 3.0 and 5.0 (on the Richter scale) are recorded every day, yet the scientific community observing the phenomenon remains perplexed because, so far, there has been no clear mainshock. Thus, there is currently no consensus as to what will happen next, since it is unclear whether this seismic activity will gradually wind down or escalate into a more powerful earthquake. Similarly, it is hard to tell how long it will take for it to cease, as it could be a matter of weeks but it could also take a bit more than that.
Gialos Beach in Santorini – The villages of the caldera can be distinguished in the distance, while the volcano lies between the two
The good news is that, though a state of emergency has been declared on the island as a matter of precaution, there is reason for concern but not panic. Currently, scientists seem to agree that the temblors are of tectonic rather than volcanic origin, as the seismic focus has shifted from the Santorini volcano to the area between Santorini and Amorgos, where there are a number of underwater faults. Hence, even though a slight increase in the volcanic activity of the Santorini and Kolumbo volcanoes warrants close inspection, it is commonly believed that there will be no volcanic eruption. Generally speaking, such a possibility can be ruled out unless the seismic focus shifts back to the area’s volcanic arch, though even in such a case it would be perfectly possible that nothing would eventually happen.
In short, the biggest danger comes from the landslides that could happen around the Santorinian coastline in case of a stronger earthquake. However, the other islands in the area are less prone to such a risk.
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