Greece Issues Safety Guidelines Amid Aegean Seismic Activity

Santorini, Greece.

With ongoing seismic activity in the Aegean affecting Santorini, Anafi, Ios, and Amorgos, the Greek Ministry for Climate Change and Civil Protection has extended its precautionary guidelines to address potential impacts in the region.

Following a meeting chaired by Minister for Climate Change and Civil Protection Vasilis Kikilias, attended by Deputy Minister Evangelos Tournas, General Secretary for Civil Protection Vasilis Papageorgiou, and representatives of the Fire Department, authorities announced that schools on the four islands would remain closed until Friday, February 7.

Latest seismic activity updates

Officials provided the following assessments regarding the situation:

– Seismic activity in the Caldera zone remains at the same low levels as in previous days.
– In the marine area near the islet of Anydros, between Thira (Santorini) and Amorgos, seismic activity has significantly increased, with 200 earthquakes recorded since February 1, ranging from magnitudes above 3.0 up to 4.9 on the Richter scale.
– Current seismic activity in the Anydros area is linked to underwater fault movements along a northeast-southwest axis and is not associated with volcanic activity.

Precautionary measures for residents and visitors

Emergency committees have urged citizens to take the following precautions:

– Avoid large gatherings inside buildings.
– Stay clear of abandoned or structurally weak buildings.
– Refrain from visiting or staying at the ports of Ammoudi, Armeni, Korfos, and the old port of Fira.
– Secure non-structural hazards such as suspended ceilings or heavy hanging objects, and drain swimming pools to prevent structural strain.
– Use safe routes when traveling through urban centers or along rural roads, particularly in areas prone to landslides.
– In the event of a strong earthquake, immediately move away from coastal areas.

An emergency management meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, at 8:00 AM to reassess the situation.

For more information on earthquake safety measures, citizens are encouraged to visit the Organization for Earthquake Planning and Protection (www.oasp.gr) and the Greek Ministry for Climate Change and Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gr).

Increased departures from Santorini

Meanwhile, hundreds of Santorini residents and visitors are leaving the island amid concerns about a potential strong earthquake or volcanic activity. In response to rising travel demand, ferry operators have added extra sailings, while AEGEAN and SKY Express have announced additional flights.

Speaking from Brussels, where he attended an EU summit on defense matters, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

“We are facing an intense phenomenon,” the PM said, urging island residents to remain calm. Mitsotakis confirmed that the government has requested a comprehensive scientific assessment of the geological activity to ensure public awareness and preparedness.

Seismic activity not linked to 1956 earthquake fault

Experts from the Geodynamic Institute of Athens have clarified that the current seismic activity in the Aegean is unrelated to the fault system that caused the devastating 1956 earthquake in the region.

Athanasios Ganas, Head of Research at the Geodynamic Institute, stated that the worst-case scenario would involve an earthquake of up to 6.0 on the Richter scale. However, he reassured the public that there are no indications of an imminent larger event.