A series of seismic tremors struck the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos early this morning, with eight earthquakes recorded between 4:30 and 5:00 AM. Two of these, both measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale, occurred within just five minutes of each other.

According to Efthymios Lekkas, president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), the ongoing seismic activity is expected to gradually subside over the coming days and weeks.

Since February 1, over 800 earthquakes with magnitudes above 3.0 have been recorded in the area, the strongest reaching 5.2 on the Richter scale.

Volcanic Activity and Ground Uplift

Athanasios Ganas, Research Director at the Geodynamic Institute, noted that experts have observed a "stabilization of the uplift" in Santorini’s caldera. The increase in ground elevation, which reached a total of four centimeters from August 2024 to now, has leveled off in early February.

Regarding volcanic activity, Ganas emphasized that "this is undoubtedly volcanic activity," adding that approximately five million cubic meters of new magma have been detected within the caldera since August.

Residents Leave the Island Amid Growing Fears

The continuous seismic activity has led many Santorini residents to leave the island. For those relocating to Athens, temporary accommodations have been arranged. As of Saturday morning, 23 families are being housed in the municipal camps of Agios Andreas.

Schools Remain Closed as Safety Inspections Continue

Schools in Santorini, Ios, Anafi, and Amorgos will remain closed for another week. Technical teams have completed safety inspections of school buildings in Santorini and Amorgos, deeming them structurally sound.