An uptick in volcanic activity has been detected on the popular Greek tourist island of Santorini, prompting the country\u2019s civil protection minister to convene a meeting with local authorities and disaster response teams.<\/p>\n According to a statement from the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry released on Wednesday, monitoring devices have recorded \u201cmild seismic-volcanic activity\u201d within Santorini\u2019s caldera. This follows a similar episode in 2011 that persisted for 14 months without causing any significant issues.<\/p>\n Experts observing the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, which extends from Greece\u2019s Peloponnese region through the Cycladic islands, have identified increased activity along a central fault line in the caldera\u2019s northern section.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on current data, scientists report there is no immediate cause for concern,\u201d the ministry assured.<\/p>\n Santorini, a top tourist destination renowned for its striking whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches overlooking the caldera, was the site of a major volcanic eruption in around 1620 BC. This event reshaped the island and is thought to have played a role in the decline of the Minoan civilization.<\/p>\n Despite being an active volcano, Santorini\u2019s last significant eruption occurred in 1950.<\/p>\n Efthymios Lekkas, a seismologist and head of the scientific monitoring committee for the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, commented on Greek television that while major eruptions occur approximately every 20,000 years, there is no imminent threat of such an event. \u201cIt\u2019s been 3,000 years since the last major eruption, so it\u2019s likely a long time before the next,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Lekkas explained that volcanic activity will vary over time, potentially causing minor earthquakes, noting that \u201cthe volcano is a living organism\u201d and that the current activity should not lead to a major explosion but rather a mild process.<\/p>\n Lekkas attended the meeting initiated by Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias, which included the head of Greece\u2019s fire department, the deputy minister for natural disaster recovery, and various local and regional officials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Increased](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000154331.webp\")
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