Earthquake Swarm Near Santorini Triggers Emergency Response from Greek Authorities

Greek authorities have responded to an intensifying earthquake swarm close to Santorini by closing colleges and deploying emergency groups. The tremors, which started final week, have been rising in frequency and magnitude, elevating considerations over potential stronger quakes within the area. While consultants have dominated out speedy volcanic exercise, the state of affairs stays unpredictable because of the swarm’s uncommon traits. The strongest tremor recorded to date was a magnitude 5 earthquake, hanging roughly 34 kilometres northeast of Santorini. The occasion occurred at 2:27 p.m. native time, as per the University of Athens’ earthquake monitoring system.

Seismic Activity Driven by Faults, Not Volcanic Unrest

According to reports, the continued tremors are attributed to fault motion quite than volcanic exercise. Santorini, positioned on the Aegean Sea’s tectonic boundary, sits on the uncovered part of a submerged volcano referred to as the Santorini caldera. David Pyle, Professor of Earth Sciences on the University of Oxford, told Live Science that the quakes are seemingly brought on by fault traces shifting quite than magma exercise. He described the swarm as uncommon, highlighting the problem of predicting future developments because of its underwater location.

Historical Earthquake Swarms and Regional Tectonics

The Aegean area experiences vital seismic exercise because of the African plate transferring beneath the Eurasian plate. Similar earthquake swarms have been recorded up to now, together with a 2011-2012 occasion linked to magma motion beneath Santorini. However, the present swarm seems extra intensive and is concentrated outdoors the Santorini caldera. Most tremors have been recorded between the underwater Kolumbo volcano and Anydros Island.

Kolumbo, final erupting in 1650, beforehand triggered a tsunami that affected close by islands. While researchers stay unsure a few direct hyperlink between present tectonic exercise and potential volcanic unrest, ongoing monitoring continues to evaluate the evolving state of affairs.