Over 12 800 earthquakes hit Santorini-Amorgos zone in 10 days, Red Cross mobilizes to aid residents, Greece
Over 12 800 earthquakes were recorded in the Santorini-Amorgos zone between February 1 and 10, 2025, with the strongest, an M5.3 event, registered at 22:16 LT (20:16 UTC) on February 10. In response, the Hellenic Red Cross (HRC) has deployed rescue teams, social workers, and psychologists to assist residents in the affected region.
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
More than 12 800 earthquakes have been recorded within the Santorini-Amorgos zone over the past ten days, as confirmed by the Interdisciplinary Committee for Risk and Crisis Management at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA).
In response, the Hellenic Red Cross (HRC) has mobilized rescue teams, social workers, and psychologists to assist affected residents. Volunteers equipped with rescue tools such as cutting equipment and ropes arrived on February 11.
The HRC’s Social Welfare Unit is prioritizing psychological support for vulnerable groups including the elderly, chronically ill individuals, and children experiencing distress from the ongoing seismic events. Teams have also been stationed at the Municipality of Thira’s Community Center in Mesaria to offer assistance to residents in Santorini.
The Seismology Laboratory at EKPA has been closely monitoring the seismic sequence, noting that 102 earthquakes occurred on February 9 alone. Among them, 14 had magnitudes above 4.0, and two exceeded M4.5. The strongest earthquake recorded during the period was M5.0, occurring at 21:05 LT (19:05 UTC).
On February 10, at 22:16 LT (20:16 UTC), an M5.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Santorini and Amorgos, marking the strongest event in the region so far. The epicenter was located 14 km (8.7 miles) south-southwest of Arkesini, Amorgos, at a depth of 17 km (10.56 miles), as confirmed by the Geodynamic Institute. The earthquake was felt in Attica and Crete.
An M5.0 earthquake was recorded 16 km (9.94 miles) south of Arkesini, at at 00:37 local time (22:37 UTC) on February 11 at a depth of 5 km (3.11 miles), followed seven minutes later by an M4.3 earthquake.
Greek seismologist Akis Tselentis added that the current seismic sequence could persist for months, drawing comparisons to the M6.0 Arkalochori earthquake in Crete which was preceded by four months of seismic buildup.
The swarm’s location suggests the potential involvement of the Kolumbos submarine volcano, located just 6.5 km (4 miles) northeast of Santorini. Kolumbo is part of the larger Santorini volcanic complex and is known for its major eruption in 1650, which caused damage and fatalities because of pyroclastic flows, tsunamis, and gas emissions.
The volcano remains active, with hydrothermal activity and periodic seismic swarms, making it a key focus for monitoring in the region. Investigations are underway to determine whether the seismicity is caused by tectonic stress along the Kolumbos and Kameni fault systems or deeper magmatic processes.
The increased seismic activity has triggered numerous landslides across Santorini affecting the natural and built environments. Geologists from EKPA’s Department of Geology and Geoenvironment have documented landslides within and beyond the caldera slopes, with impacts observed in the southern coastal areas, central-eastern caldera slopes, and northern regions of the island.
Red Beach and Vlychada Beach have been among the most affected locations, with debris accumulation altering the coastal landscape. Red Beach has remained inaccessible because of recurring rockfalls while Vlychada Beach has narrowed substantially because of unstable mass deposits.
Rockfalls have also been observed along the road between Oia and Fira, requiring careful navigation for vehicles. At the Athinios port, the extent of landslides has been limited, and no damage has been reported to port infrastructure or businesses.
In response to these developments, Civil Protection authorities have implemented preventive measures including restricting access to high-risk zones and closing sections of roads deemed unsafe. Structural intervention strategies tailored to Santorini’s volcanic topography will be considered once seismic activity subsides.
Professor Senol Hakan Kutoglu from Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University in Turkey warned that an M8+ earthquake in the Aegean Sea could trigger tsunami waves between 3 and 5 m (9.84 and 16.4 feet) along Türkiye’s coastline.
As a result, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has installed mobile sirens in Izmir, Aydin, and Mugla to warn residents of possible tsunami threats. An SMS alert system has also been activated to provide timely warnings. Emergency preparedness efforts have been reinforced with additional resources deployed from Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakir, Sivas, and Samsun.
References:
1 Hellenic Red Cross Deploys Rescuers and Psychologists to Amorgos After Santorini Earthquakes – GREEK CITY TIMES – February 11, 2025
2 Türkiye installs sirens to warn of tsunami risk as Santorini earthquakes continue – Turkiye Today – February 10, 2025
3 Over 12,800 Earthquakes Recorded in 10 Days in the Santorini-Amorgos Zone – GREEK CITY NEWS – February 11, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
FYI – A major Greek tourist hotspot is being rattled by an ‘earthquake swarm’. Here’s what that means —
– ABC News (Australia) – Topic:Earthquakes – 1h ago –
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EXCERPT – When Greek tourist hotpot Santorini was rattled by an earthquake at the end of January, it wasn’t a one-off.
– Thousands of tremors have since shaken the south-eastern Aegean Sea region in what scientists call an “earthquake swarm”.
– More than a fortnight later, the majority of Santorini’s nearly 16,000 residents have left the island as the mid-level quakes continued.
– Now authorities have declared a state emergency on the nearby island of Amorgos too.
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Where are Santorini and Amorgos?
– Santorini and Amorgos are part of Greece’s Cyclades island group, which is located in the Aegean Sea.
– They’re about 200 kilometres south-east of mainland Greece.
– The islands are extremely popular tourist destinations, with about 3.4 million visitors flocking to Santorini in 2023.
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What is an earthquake swarm?
– A bunch of earthquakes happening with no dominant main shock, New Zealand’s Geonet website explains.
– “Swarms typically involve earthquakes of lower magnitudes, they can last for days to weeks, or persist for months,” earthquake scientists Dee Ninis and Konstantinos Michailos wrote in a piece for the Conversation.
– “They can even slow down, and then intensify again, unsettling locals with intermittent ground shaking.”
– Greece is in a highly seismically active part of the world and earthquakes are common.
– However, it’s rare for there to be so many intense quakes over such a long period.
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How many earthquakes have there been?
– Athens University has recorded more than 14,000 quakes between January 26 and February 9.
– But there’s been more since then, with 109 quakes recorded on Monday alone.
– And the university Siesmological Laboratory’s website recorded dozens of further tremors on Wednesday.
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Will there be more?
– It’s difficult to say.
– Scientists say it’s unclear whether frequent lower-magnitude quakes will continue for several weeks or months.
– “The most likely scenario is for the seismic activity to continue for certain days or weeks at the same intensity,” the head of Greece’s earthquake planning and protection authority, Efthymios Lekkas, told Proto Programma radio.
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What’s the magnitude of the earthquakes?
– The quakes have been ranging between a magnitude 3 to 5.
– So far, the largest has had a magnitude of 5.2 — that one was Monday night.
Thirteen of Monday’s quakes registered magnitudes greater than 4, and there were several more of a similar magnitude on Tuesday.
– One area was hit by another barrage of up to magnitude-5 tremors on Wednesday morning, with a few 4.0 and 4.7 termors recorded at about midday.
– Depending on the topography and local ground conditions, the effects of earthquakes can vary.
– Earthquakes with magnitudes of less than 3.5 rarely cause damage in Australia, but Geosciences Australia points out that magnitude-4 earthquakes occasionally topple chimneys.
– In Santorini, authorities cordoned off some areas on the island’s renowned cliff top towns that were considered vulnerable to potential rock slides.
– Amorgos, which has fewer than 2,000 permanent inhabitants, is considered less at risk owing to its rocky terrain and less dense construction than Santorini.
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Has there been much damage?
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AND — Santorini – Amorgos: Series of Earthquakes with Magnitude 4.2 Occur in Quick Succession —
– Greek City Times – GREEK NEWS – LATEST NEWS – 13 FEBRUARY 2025 –
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On February 13, 2025, the region between Santorini and Amorgos experienced two significant seismic events, each registering a magnitude of 4.2.
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These tremors occurred just one minute apart, shortly after 1:00 AM on Thursday morning, amidst ongoing seismic activity in the area.
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The Cyclades continue to grapple with persistent seismic disturbances, causing anxiety among the remaining residents of Santorini, Amorgos, and neighboring islands. Scientists are closely monitoring this unusual geological phenomenon with heightened concern.
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The Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens reported that the tremors struck at 01:02 and 01:03 respectively. The epicenter was located in the sea, 23 kilometers southwest of Arkesini, Amorgos, with focal depths of 11.4 km and 12.8 km.
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Stay updated with the latest news by following Greek City Times on Google News.
AND — The optimistic scenario is a 6 Richter earthquake in Santorini – Tselendis: “We are in a pre-seismic phase” —
– Proto Thema – Newsroom – February 13, 08:51 –
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A new post in which, among other things, he answers questions about the earthquakes in Santorini was made at dawn today by Aki Tselendis, claiming that “the optimistic scenario is that there will be an earthquake of 6 Richter” in the region.
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Asked what the worst-case scenario is, the seismologist and former director of the Geodynamic Institute answers “with very LOW probability, it is that the Amorgos fault will be activated and we will have a 7R earthquake.”
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After arguing against evacuating Santorini, he goes on to note that in both scenarios – a 6 and a 7 magnitude earthquake – “there will be a tsunami” while estimating, however, that with modern warning devices and public awareness, “the impact will be minimal.”
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On the crucial question of the duration of earthquakes, Tselentis insists that we are in “PRE-seismic action“, arguing that it will all depend “on when we have the main earthquake and its magnitude”.
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FYI — Additional meters installed in Greece’s Santorini as tremors continue —
– Yahoo! – DPA (Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH) – Wed, February 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM CST (13:15 UTC) –
– Scientists have installed more seismographs around Santorini as the Greek island continues to be rattled by small quakes, the head of the country’s seismological service told broadcaster ERTNews on Wednesday.
– Researchers have also retrieved two underwater seismographs to evaluate data, Efthimis Lekkas said.
– “They will […] provide valuable data on the exact epicentres of the earthquakes, and it will be possible to estimate the course of the seismic sequence more reliably,” he said.
– Seismographs are used to record waves and vibrations of the ground during earthquakes.
– Santorini, a popular holiday island in the Aegean Sea, has been rattled by a series of mostly small tremors since late January.
– Seismologists warn that the small quakes show no signs of stopping and could persist for weeks or months, with concerns that a magnitude 6 earthquake may strike before the activity subsides.
– Numerous small and medium-sized tremors as well as a magnitude 5.0 earthquake were again recorded overnight but Lekkas said that a main quake of magnitude 6 or stronger has yet to occur.
– Tremors of that magnitude could cause widespread damage and even tsunamis.
– Scientists have installed a tide gauge on the north-east coast of the island facing the earthquake epicentres to monitor the water.
– A large proportion of the island’s inhabitants, mainly women, children and the elderly, have left Santorini and sought safety with relatives on the mainland.
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AND — Cyclades: Seismic activity persists – Over 100 tremors per day, scientists are reassuring —
– EPT News (Greece) – FEATURED – GREECE – SOUTH AEGEAN – 12/02/25 19:16 –
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EXCERPTS — The seismic sequence continues to hit Santorini and the surrounding islands . Scientists, after the latest tremors that reached and exceeded 5 on the Richter scale, leave open the possibility of a stronger earthquake of 6 on the Richter scale, while they appear categorical about whether volcanic activity is affected.
– An average of 100 tremors shake the residents of the Cyclades every day, with experts assuring that there is no risk to their safety.
– At dawn, another 5-magnitude earthquake woke up Amorgos and Santorini, while in the following hours a barrage of earthquakes above 4 to 4.9 magnitude followed, which also caused a small landslide.
– “It is something that usually lasts weeks, in some cases months, sometimes more than two or three months. The sequence that concerns us is a seismic sequence that is in Anhidros,” emphasized Seismology Professor Costas Papazachos.
– According to Geodynamics, we have entered the 2nd phase of seismic activity with a relative attenuation of vibrations.
– “It shows lower rates. In the last few days after Friday we have had much milder seismicity. This does not mean that the magnitudes are smaller, as a cluster it maintains maximum magnitudes at 5.3-5.2,” noted Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute.
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— Is there a scenario of a major earthquake?
The epicenters of the earthquakes were initially located near Santorini, then shifted towards Amorgos, and recently they are returning southeast again but moving on the same fault.
– With the new seismographs, the data reaches the geodynamics department in real time, where it is analyzed.
– As Mr. Karastathis said, “we are monitoring more precisely whether there is a shift in epicenters and what concerns us is that seismicity does not escape from the specific fault that has already broken […] we have not ruled out the possibility of a larger earthquake.”
– “It is very likely that the energy released in the area could activate the large Anidros fault, which is what will cause a large earthquake of magnitude 6,” said Geology Professor Dimitris Papanikolaou.
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— Classified risk zones
Scientists are working on different scenarios to predict the consequences of a major earthquake.
– “Even if the large part of the fault breaks, Santorini, Ios, Anafi and Amorgos have relatively limited impacts in all models,” says Mr. Papazachos.
– In the case of Santorini, 3 zones of graded risk are identified.
– “The southern half of the island, which is located on a good alpine base, solid and strong, will have low tensions. In the northern half, from Fira to Oia, the tensions will be greater,” said Mr. Papanikolaou.
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— Is the Volcano Awakening?
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— More than 100 earthquakes were recorded on February 11 in the Santorini-Amorgos zone
The Seismology Laboratory of the National University of Athens continues to record seismic activity in the Santorini-Amorgos zone. According to the laboratory’s daily seismic data analysis (without the use of machine learning methods), on February 11, over 100 earthquakes were recorded, of which 16 with magnitudes M≥4.0 and 4 with M≥4.5, while the largest earthquake occurred at 09:17:20 local time and had a magnitude of 4.8.
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— The Municipality of Amorgos is declared in a state of emergency by decision of the Secretary General of Civil Protection
The Secretary General of Civil Protection, by his decision, proceeded to declare a State of Emergency of Civil Protection for the Municipality of Amorgos, Regional Unit of Naxos, South Aegean Region, to address emergency needs and manage the consequences resulting from the seismic activity that has been occurring in the above area recently.
– Since February 2nd until today, Fire Brigade teams, EMAK units, EMODE team, EKAB rescuers with an ambulance, volunteer rescuers and Red Cross social workers and finally medical personnel have arrived on the island. HEDNO has sent equipment so that there is a power supply on the island in case of emergency, as well as a crew for restoration and maintenance.
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AND — Latest quakes in or near Greece in the past 24 hours on Wednesday, February 12, 2025
– list, stats and map —
– Volcano Discovery – Crete | Dodecanese Islands & SW Turkey | Evia –
– Updated: Feb 12, 2025 – 18:58 GMT –
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In the past 24 hours, Greece has had 900 quakes of magnitudes up to 5.1:
2 quakes above magnitude 5
29 quakes between magnitude 4 and 5
170 quakes between magnitude 3 and 4
555 quakes between magnitude 2 and 3
144 quakes below magnitude 2 that people normally don’t feel.
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AND — State of Emergency Declared on Amorgos as Earthquakes Intensify in the Aegean Sea —
– Greek City Times – GREEK NEWS – LATEST NEWS – 13 FEBRUARY 2025 –
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Authorities have declared a state of emergency on a second Greek island as earthquakes continue to affect the southeastern Aegean Sea region. The emergency was declared on Amorgos, following a similar decision for Santorini on February 7, after a series of unusual tremors were detected in an undersea area near both islands, as well as Ios and Anafi, all popular tourist destinations.
– Initially, scientists were hopeful that the seismic activity was subsiding, but the emergence of several earthquakes around magnitude 5 has heightened concerns. Seismologists have observed that the epicenters of these earthquakes are steadily moving northward towards Amorgos.
– The emergency declaration aims to ensure the swift deployment of resources and emergency services in the area. The region has already witnessed a significant mobilization of fire departments, police, coast guard, and armed forces, especially on Santorini, where many residents and seasonal workers have evacuated the island.
– Since January 26, approximately 12,000 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 1 have been recorded, according to the University of Athens’ crisis management committee. While Greece is located in a seismically active region and experiences frequent earthquakes, this prolonged and intense series of tremors is highly unusual for any part of the country.
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AND — As of 08:05 (UTC), 13 Feb 2025 —
The report by – USGS Earthquake Hazards Program – Latest Earthquakes Worldwide –
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On 12 Feb 2025 – Dodecanes Islands Greece -> SIXTEEN (16) reported Quakes of Magnitude 4.0+ <-
5.1 = 1 / 5.0 = 1 / 4.8 = 1 / 4.7 = 1 / 4.6 = 1 / 4.5 = 1 / 4.4 = 1 / 4.3 = 6 / 4 .2 = 2 / 4.1 = 1
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FYI — Latest quakes in or near Greece in the past 24 hours on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – list, stats and map —
– Volcano Discovery – Crete | Dodecanese Islands & SW Turkey | Evia –
– Updated: Feb 11, 2025 13:25 GMT –
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In the past 24 hours, Greece has had 689 quakes of magnitudes up to 5.3:
2 quakes above magnitude 5
20 quakes between magnitude 4 and 5
269 quakes between magnitude 3 and 4
317 quakes between magnitude 2 and 3
81 quakes below magnitude 2 that people normally don’t feel.
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AND — Scientists say several thousand earthquakes detected near Greece’s island of Santorini —
– AP News – World News – BY ELENA BECATOROS – Updated 10:20 AM CST, February 11, 2025 –
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EXCERPT – ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Scientists have detected several thousand earthquakes, the vast majority of them with small magnitudes, in just over two weeks near Greece’s volcanic island of Santorini, the University of Athens’ crisis management committee said Tuesday, adding that a larger quake cannot be ruled out.
– The highly unusual barrage of earthquakes which began in late January has alarmed authorities. They have declared a state of emergency on Santorini, one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, deploying rescue crews with drones and a sniffer dog and putting coast guard and navy vessels on standby.
– Thousands of residents and visitors have left the island, while schools on Santorini and nearby islands have been ordered to remain closed for the week.
– Extra doctors and paramedics have been sent to Santorini’s hospital, while six disaster medicine teams are on standby as reinforcements. Medical staff practiced an evacuation drill Tuesday, running out of the building while wheeling stretchers with people posing as patients.
– “The preparation of our health facilities for natural disasters such as earthquakes is of vital importance,” Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous said while visiting the hospital.
– Scientists have been closely monitoring the earthquake swarm occurring between the islands of Santorini and Amorgos, and the two volcanoes in the area. They say it’s unclear whether the dozens of quakes each day – ranging from magnitude 3 to roughly 5 or just above – are a precursor to a significantly larger, main earthquake or will continue with frequent lower magnitude quakes for several weeks or months. … –
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AND — Santorini in state of emergency after thousands of earthquakes shake Greek island for days, sending majority of residents fleeing —
– Yahoo! News – Katie MatherReporter – Updated Tue, February 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM CST (19:33 UTC) –
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EXCERPT …
Here’s the latest
– Rémy Bossu, the secretary-general of the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, which analyzes earthquakes in the region, explained to CNN the recent tremors — known as an “earthquake swarm” — are “very unusual,” even for Santorini, which often experiences seismic activity.
– Normally, in situations like this in Santorini, “What you observe is a large earthquake followed by aftershocks which decrease with time in magnitude and frequency,” Bossu said. But in this case, “We see that the magnitude has been increasing with time and the rate has been increasing, so this is not typical behavior,” he added.
– Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization has estimated that this activity may continue for many more days if not weeks, CNN noted.
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Santorini is ‘traumatized,’ resident says
– Thousands of earthquakes, ranging from magnitude 3 to magnitude 5.2, have hit Santorini. The U.S. Geological Survey defines a 5-magnitude earthquake as “moderate,” which means it is strong enough to be felt by most people and could potentially cause some damage to already weak structures.
– While experts cannot predict future earthquakes, Efthymis Lekkas, the head of the Hellenic Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, told a Greece broadcaster that a larger earthquake isn’t ruled out.
– While authorities have closed schools and shut down access to certain areas, no major damage has been reported on the island so far.
– No scientists have ever accurately predicted an earthquake before it struck, and experts have not determined whether this activity suggests that a significantly large earthquake could hit Santorini or not. … –
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– “In our country, we have not seen anything similar with so many earthquakes of this magnitude,” Vasilis Karastathis, the director of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, told the BBC. “On the contrary, we see an increase in frequency and magnitude.” … –
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AND — As of 05:20 (UTC), 12 Feb 2025 —
As reported by – USGS Earthquake Hazards Program – Latest Earthquakes Worldwide –
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On 11 Feb 2025 – Dodecanes Islands Greece
-> There were ELEVEN (11) reported Quakes of Magnitude 4.0+ <-
4.9 = 2 / 4.8 = 1 / 4.7 = 1 / 4.6 = 1 / 4.5 = 1 / 4 .4 = 1 / 4 .2 = 1 / 4.1 = 1 / 4 .0 = 2
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— As of 10:40 (UTC), 12 Feb 2025 —
The report by – USGS Earthquake Hazards Program – Latest Earthquakes Worldwide –
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On 11 Feb 2025 – Dodecanes Islands Greece was corrected to
-> FOURTEEN (14) reported Quakes of Magnitude 4.0+ <-
4.9 = 2 / 4.8 = 1 / 4.7 = 1 / 4.6 = 1 / 4.5 = 2 / 4 .4 = 2 / 4.3 = 1 / 4 .2 = 1 / 4.1 = 1 / 4 .0 = 2
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