File photo.
A newly installed seismic station on Santorini, set up by scientists to monitor seismic activity on the popular tourist island, has been vandalized by unknown individuals.
In a social media post on Saturday, Costas Papazachos, a professor of geophysics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, who was sent to the island to assess the lingering tremors, revealed that the station, which was set up on February 11 in Vlychada, a remote area on the southern tip of the island, suddenly went offline near midnight three days ago.
“When we inspected it, we found that the solar power system and battery had been stolen, along with all related equipment, including chargers,” Papazachos said.
He noted that incidents of vandalism targeting seismological equipment are extremely rare. “There is a societal sensitivity toward these machines, as they are vital for the country’s seismic monitoring,” he added.
Papazachos emphasized the importance of public awareness and empathy in preventing similar incidents in the future. “These stations play a crucial role in monitoring seismic activity for the safety of citizens,” he said.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
