Santorini shuts schools as tremors rattle Greek island

Santorini is on what is called the Hellenic Volcanic Arc – a series of volcanic islands created by plate tectonics – however the final main eruption was within the Nineteen Fifties.

Greek authorities mentioned that the latest minor earthquakes have been associated to tectonic plate actions as an alternative of volcanic exercise.

The tremors are being brought on by the Aegean sea plate subducting beneath the African plate, inflicting resistance and friction to construct up alongside the fault line.

When the plate shifts, power is launched within the type of an earthquake.

Earthquakes are quite common on this area, however authorities say exercise within the Santorini caldera – the volcanic basin the island sits round – stays in decline.

Whereas the latest tremors are regarded as unlikely to be a precursor to a volcanic eruption, the chance can’t be dominated out.

The tremors recorded by geologists are thought of minor, however authorities have advisable various preventative measures along with the varsity closures, together with asking ships to keep away from the ports of Ammoudi and Fira.

Huge cruise ships usually anchor close to the Previous Port of Fira, with passengers being dropped at shore on smaller boats.

Faculties have been additionally advised to shut on the close by islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, and can stay so till 7 February.

On Monday, a message from the emergency companies was despatched to the residents of Santorini, urging them to go away the areas of Ammoudi, Armeni and the Previous Port of Fira as a result of landslides.

In line with the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a complete of over 555 earthquakes have been recorded since January 28 within the space between Amorgos and Santorini.

Kostas Papazachos, a professor of geophysics at Thessaloniki Aristotle College, advised public broadcaster ERT that the precautionary measures have been “exactly to restrict the influence of a stronger earthquake”, as quakes can’t be predicted.

He added: “When you have got a sequence subsequent to you that’s so vivid, so intense, it’s a must to be a bit cautious, exactly as a result of there may be at all times the chance of one thing like that taking place.”

Earthquakes are measured on the Second Magnitude Scale (Mw) – as an alternative of the better-known Richter scale, which is now thought of much less correct. The quantity attributed to an earthquake represents a mixture of the space a fault line has moved and the power that moved it.

A tremor of two.5 or much less normally can’t be felt, however might be detected by devices. Quakes of as much as 5 are felt and trigger minor harm.

Prof Papazachos mentioned that have been a minor earthquake to happen whereas folks have been gathered in massive crowds, it might create panic which will result in folks being injured.

The South Aegean Regional Hearth Division has been positioned on common alert and rescue groups in addition to the regional commander have been dispatched to Santorini.

Numerous airways have added further flights as folks rush to go away the island, and extra ferries have additionally been deployed. Lodge homeowners are reporting a sequence of cancellations of their bookings, as vacationers are avoiding the island.

Although the island has a inhabitants of round 15,500, it welcomes thousands and thousands of vacationers annually.