Santorini earthquakes: what do we know and the state of volcanic activity

Athens, Greece (AP) – Multiple earthquakes rattles Santorini, Volcanic island In Greece, which encourages the authorities to send rescuers with tents, a dog and drone dog, as well as to close schools in four islands.

The residents were warned To avoid the fees in the room, check the escape routes, stay away from the rocks and drain the pools to reduce the potential structural damage of buildings in the event of a large earthquake.

Greece lies in high Seismically active part of the worldAnd earthquakes are frequent. The overwhelming majority are not injured and had harm, but the country also saw deadly earthquakes. Earthquakes cannot be predicted, but the authorities take action as caution.

Santorini, one of the most popular tourist destinations of Greece, took its present crescent shape after a massive eruption of volcanic eruption in antiquity. Millions of visitors now come to his dramatic landscapes every year with whitewashed houses and blue churches clinging to the rock along a flooded caldera or a volcanic crater.

Last week, scientists stated that they noticed increased volcanic activity in Calder, but they say it is not related to earthquakes.

Here’s a look at the current situation:

What is happening?

About 200 earthquakes with quantities between 3 and 4.9 were registered from Saturday to Monday afternoon between Santorini and the neighboring Amomos Island, Vlasi said.

Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos stated on Greece’s television that seismic activity began on January 24, but intensified on Saturday, with increasing frequency and size.

The line of malfunctions that produce current earthquakes run about 120 kilometers (75 miles), but only the southern part between Santorini and Amorgos is activated. Earthquakes have epicenters under the sea floor, about 30-40 kilometers (18-25 miles) from any of the islands. Scientists say it is good news, as the epicenter underground can potentially be more destructive. But a large earthquake can also provoke a tsunami, so the authorities have warned people to stay away from the coastal areas and go to the inside if they feel a significant earthquake.

There were no injuries or injuries yet, although some minor roller coaster has occurred.

Can earthquakes provoke a volcano eruption?

Santorini lies along the Hellenic volcanic arc, which extends from Peloponnese in the south of Greece through the kikladic islands.

Last Wednesday, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Greece’s Civil Protection announced that monitoring sensors have taken “light seismic-wollen activity” within the Calder of the island. Similar volcanic activity was recorded in 2011, when it lasted 14 months and ended without any basic issues.

Another volcano – a submarine called Columbo – lies about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of Santorini, closer to the epicenter of current earthquakes.

But seismologists say earthquakes are not related to volcanoes.

The meeting between government officials and scientists has determined that seismic activity in Calder Santorini “remains at the same low level as in recent days,” said the Ministry of Civil Defense on Monday, but this is “especially increased” between Santorini and Amorgos.

What is the power of power?

Scientists are still trying to finally determine whether there are multiple earthquakes – smaller earthquakes in front of the main timblore. Papadopoulos said they are “high probability.”

The main villages of Santorini are built along the rim of Calder volcana – producing dramatic landscapes of cascading whitewashed houses and points of view of the West that make the island so popular, but also cause concern in the case of a large earthquake. Solid rocks also make some areas prone to mountain mountains.

What precautions are taken?

Authorities sent a team of rescuers with a dog -chipher dog and drones to Santorini, where they staged tents in the basketball court next to the main hospital of the island as a production. The warned notifications were sent by a mobile phone, preventing people from staying away from the areas where mountain slides may occur and prohibit access to some coastal areas.

Residents and hotels were asked to drain the swimming pools, as the movement of water in a large earthquake can destabilize buildings. People were told to avoid old buildings and check out the exit routes when in built -up areas.

Schools about Santorini, as well as the neighboring Afi, Amomos and IOS islands will remain closed all week.

What is the story?

The Flower Line that was activated was the place of Greece’s largest earthquake in the last century: 7.7 magnitude, which was named Amsomomos earthquake, which hit in 1956, causing approximately 20-meter (65 feet) tsunami, which caused significant damage in Amorgos And Santorini and killing more than 50 people.

Santorini is also the place of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history. Known as the Minoan eruption, it happened around 1600 BC. And she destroyed most of the previously round island, giving Santorini her current form. It is believed that the eruption contributed to the decline of the ancient Minoan civilization.

Despite the fact that it is still an active volcano, the last noticeable eruption occurred in 1950.

“We need to realize that Santorini volcano produces very large explosions every 20,000 years,” – Ephtyimios Lekkas, seismologist and head of the Scientific Monitoring Monitoring Committee for Hellenic Volcanic Arc, said last week. “3000 years have passed since the last explosion, so we have a very long time before we face the Big Bang.”