A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Santorini on Wednesday night, shortly after 9 p.m., in the sea region between Santorini and Amorgos islands. This marks the most powerful tremor reported by the Geodynamic Institute near Santorini in recent days. The region has experienced over 6,400 quakes in the past nine days, causing concern among scientists and prompting many residents to leave the island.
On Tuesday, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake was also recorded, with its epicenter 22 kilometers southwest of Arkesini, Amorgos. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) notes that the seismic activity suggests an earthquake swarm, characterized by the absence of a dominant main shock.
The NKUA presents two potential outcomes: the seismic activity might gradually decline, with smaller quakes persisting for several months, or it could escalate into a more significant main earthquake, followed by typical aftershocks.
Earlier on Wednesday, Efthymis Lekkas, president of the Hellenic Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), cautioned about the increased landslide risk in Santorini due to the ongoing seismic disturbances.
