The Seismology Laboratory of the National University of Athens detected over 15,300 earthquakes in the Santorini-Amorgos region between January 26 and February 10. Seismology Professor Kostas Papazachos mentioned that the situation indicated a period of “silence” before the resumption of intense activity. Geology Professor Dimitris Papanikolaou stated, “We are faced with a strange geodynamic situation where the usual rules regarding tectonic earthquakes do not apply.” The latest information on the expected major earthquake in Greece…Preparations were made for a significant tremor on the Greek islands as consecutive earthquakes continued in the Aegean Sea.
The Seismology Laboratory of the National University in Athens found more than 15,300 earthquakes in the Santorini-Amorgos region from January 26 to February 10.
According to the University’s Interdisciplinary Committee for Risk and Crisis Management, the results from February 10 show that seismic activity migrated to the northeast, likely towards a different fault line, with the epicenter moving east of Anhydros, where the largest earthquakes occurred.
Thessaloniki Aristoteles University Seismology Professor Kostas Papazachos, in a statement on Naftemporiki television, stated that although there seemed to be a mild decrease in movement, the activity continued at nearly the same pace.
Papazachos pointed out that the earthquake series displayed a period of “silence” after a significant number of quakes occurred and fragmented into several parts before the resumption of intense activity. Geology Professor Dimitris Papanikolaou described the seismic activity in Santorini-Amorgos as “clearly unprecedented” and predicted that it would continue for some time.
Papanikolaou explained that the migratory pattern had no connection to other seismic activities which can be categorized as foreshocks, main shock, aftershocks related to tectonic earthquakes.
He added, “In the past 10 days, even more prominently in the past week, it has become apparent that we are facing a strange geodynamic situation where the usual rules concerning tectonic earthquakes do not apply.”
Papanikolaou also mentioned the interaction with the magmatic-volcanic arc, stating, “Currently, there is magma intrusion at approximately 5 kilometers deep, as this magma rises towards the upper crust, it exerts additional pressures beyond the tectonics we had previously, causing numerous small to medium-sized fault ruptures of 4-5.3 magnitudes.”
However, he added that there was no immediate likelihood of more magma rising to the surface in the near future. Papanikolaou noted that there was always a risk of the largest fault in Anhydros becoming active, and in such a scenario, there would be a high probability of a magnitude 6 earthquake occurring.
Highlighting it as a “negative scenario,” the expert anticipated that the situation would be manageable in terms of its impact on Santorini and Amorgos. He also mentioned that earthquakes below 7 magnitude rarely result in major tsunamis. In the worst-case scenario, if a magnitude 6 earthquake occurred, energy dissipation would be quicker, he stated.
Papanikolaou ruled out the likelihood of a new volcano forming and emphasized that volcanic eruptions were being anticipated. He added, “Volcanoes are currently calm, there are no earthquakes, the other event is deep, it’s not related to a volcano, but it’s related to magma.”