Several earthquakes were registered last night near the Greek island of Santorini and neighboring Amorgos, including the strongest recorded since the beginning of this intense seismic activity, according to the Geodynamic Institute of the Observatory in Athens.
An earthquake measuring 5,3 on the Richter scale was registered last night at 22.16:37 p.m. local time in the sea, south of the island of Amorgos and about XNUMX kilometers northeast of Santorini, the world-famous volcanic island.
This is the most powerful earthquake since the start of intense seismic activity at the end of January.
The institute initially announced that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5,2.
A magnitude 5,2 earthquake was already recorded near the island last week.
The earthquake was felt as far away as Athens last night, more than 200 kilometers from the epicenter, but there was no damage or injuries.
Two hours later, a new magnitude five earthquake was registered in the same zone in the Aegean Sea, and ten minutes later, two more magnitude four earthquakes followed.
Since 7.00:4,4 this morning local time, new earthquakes have been recorded, including one with a magnitude of XNUMX southeast of the island of Amorgos.
Experts sending reassuring messages, however, estimate that this seismic activity, which has caused more than 11.000 people to leave Santorini since the beginning of February, could last for weeks.
More than 12.800 earthquakes were registered between January 26th and February 8th in the maritime zone between the two tourist islands of the Cyclades archipelago, according to the seismological laboratory of the University of Athens.
On February 9th alone, 102 earthquakes were detected.
"This will continue, it will take weeks for this phenomenon to stop," seismology professor Kostas Papazachos warned on public television ERT.
"The local population needs to adapt and we need to anticipate a scenario where the whole of February will take place in similar conditions," he added.
Seismologists say the region has not had such strong seismic activity since measurements began in 1964.
The Civil Protection Department has declared a state of emergency in Santorini until March 3. Schools on the island, as well as on Amargos and neighboring islands, have been closed since February 3 and will remain closed until Friday.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a visit to the island on Friday that he did not believe anything catastrophic would happen.
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