Sequence of 8 earthquakes from 3 to 3.8 Richter within half an hour

Eight tremors of magnitude 3 to 3.8 Richter were recorded within a period of half an hour, from 4:30 to 5 in the morning of Sunday in the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos.

In fact, two of them were 3.8 Richter, within five minutes, at 4:55 and 5.

Professor Costas Papazachos, representative of the seismic and volcanic risk committees

For the better, faster and more complete information of citizens regarding the seismic activity between Santorini and Amorgos – the duration of which seems to be prolonged in time – on the initiative of the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias, the Professor of Lithosphere Physics, Seismology and Applied Geophysics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Costas Papazachos, is appointed as the representative of the two Committees (Permanent Scientific Committee for Seismic Hazard Assessment and Seismic Risk Reduction of the OASP and the Permanent Scientific Committee for Monitoring the Greek Volcanic Arc).

A total of 104 people from Santorini, who fled the island in fear of the successive earthquakes, will be accommodated in the camps of the municipality of Athens, in Agios Andreas in Eastern Attica.

Schools closed until February 14 in Thira, Ios, Anafi and Amorgos.

Papazachos: Encouraging Signs

“The signs are currently optimistic regarding the evolution of the phenomenon in Santorini,” said Kostas Papazachos, Professor of Geophysics and Seismology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Speaking to ERT, he noted that in recent days, “things are improving,” but nature can always hold surprises. He emphasized that the situation appears to be stabilizing.

Lekkas: Seismic Activity Decreasing, Risk of a 6-Magnitude Quake Diminishing

The scenario that initially had minimal chances of a 6.0, 6.1, or 6.2 magnitude earthquake has now shifted, indicating a likelihood of a quake below 6.0 on the Richter scale, said the president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), Efthymios Lekkas, on Friday.

Today, the Seismic Risk Committee and the Volcanic Risk Committee will convene to assess new data and make recommendations to the authorities.

“I believe the scenario of a 6.0 or higher earthquake has been ruled out,” he emphasized, adding that the accumulated energy in the region is gradually dissipating. “Today, we are slightly more optimistic than we were yesterday,” he stated.

Another 3 seismic tremors measuring 4.1 to 4.4 on the Richter scale in the sea south of Amorgos

Three seismic tremors—two measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale and one measuring 4.4—were recorded in the sea 17-26 kilometers south-southwest of the Arkesini community in Amorgos in the early morning hours, at 05:11, 05:08, and 03:52, respectively, according to data published by the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens.

All three earthquakes were classified as “minor” by the institute. Dozens of tremors continue to be recorded in the area daily.