Successive Earthquakes Above 4.0 Magnitude Rattle Cyclades Islands, Authorities on High Alert

A series of successive earthquakes exceeding 4.0 on the Richter scale have been recorded in the Aegean Sea, between the islands of Santorini and Amorgos, raising concerns among local authorities and residents.

Speaking from Santorini on Monday morning, Professor Efthymios Lekkas, president of Greece’s Earthquake Planning & Protection Organisation (OASP), acknowledged the increased seismic activity. “There is an elevated risk. We do not deny it, and this pattern will likely continue for some time,” he stated, adding that expert committees will reconvene at 13:00 to further assess the situation.

However, Professor Lekkas clarified that there is no direct correlation between the ongoing seismic activity northeast of Santorini and the island’s volcano. “We are 15 Greek scientists here, and we all agree on that,” he emphasized, reassuring that while the tremors are concerning, they do not currently indicate volcanic unrest.

The professor also cautioned that the seismic sequence may persist for several weeks and noted that the farther the earthquake epicentres are from Santorini, the lower the potential impact on the island.

The most significant tremor recorded on Monday was a 4.7-magnitude earthquake at 10:26, with its epicentre located in the sea, 20 km south of Arkesini, Amorgos, and 237 km southeast of Athens, according to the Athens National Observatory’s Geodynamics Institute. Earlier that morning, at 07:10, a 4.2-magnitude quake was detected 233 km southeast of Athens, with an epicentre in the sea, 26 km north-northwest of Anafi.

Emergency Flights to and from Santorini

In response to the ongoing seismic activity and potential travel disruptions, AEGEAN Airlines has scheduled additional emergency flights to and from Santorini. These flights, arranged at the request of the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry, aim to facilitate the travel needs of both residents and visitors.

The additional flights are as follows:

Monday, February 3, 2025:

• Flight A3356: Athens – Santorini at 14:00
• Flight A3357: Santorini – Athens at 15:20
• Flight A3360: Athens – Santorini at 17:50
• Flight A3361: Santorini – Athens at 19:10

Tuesday, February 4, 2025:

• Flight A3352: Athens – Santorini at 07:15
• Flight A3353: Santorini – Athens at 08:35

The airline confirmed that all four regularly scheduled daily flights to and from Santorini will operate as planned, in addition to the newly introduced emergency flights.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents and tourists to stay informed through official channels while maintaining vigilance for any further seismic activity.

Source: pagenews.gr