Schools on the islands of Thera (Santorini), Ios, Anafi, and Amorgos will remain shut through February 14 (Friday), the two committees on seismic activity and threat decided on Saturday.
The decision is included in a statement by the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry after a midday meeting was convened by professor Efthymios Lekkas, president of the Earthquake Planning & Protection Organisation (OASP).
According to the statement, the committee members also said that seismic activity at Anydros islet (between Thera and Amorgos) remains stable, with over 800 earthquakes registered between February 1 and today (Feb. 8) measuring over 3 on the Richter scale, and a maximum intensity of 5.2 on the Richter scale.
Earthquakes in the region of Anydros are due to underwater faults running northeast-southwest, and are not related to volcanic activity at the Old and New Kammeni islands and the underground volcano of Kolumbo, both near Thera. In addition, seismic activity within the Caldera at Santorini remains at the same low level as in previous days.
The committee members reiterated their preventative measures, including avoiding large gatherings indoors, coastal areas during strong earthquakes, and the ports of Ammoudi, Armenis, Korfos, and the Old Port of Fira.
Papazachos
Meanwhile, the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry appointed as spokesman for both committees Kostas Papazachos, professor of the Physics of Lithosphere, Seismology, and Applied Geophysics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “for better, faster, and fullest briefing of citizens related to the seismic activity between Santorini and Amorgos that appears to continue”.
The members of the two committees will meet again at 18:00 on Tuesday (Feb. 11), they said after the meeting at the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry.
Also present at the ministry were Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Secretary General for Civil Protection Vassilis Papageorgiou, and representatives of the Fire Department leadership.
More information on earthquake protection is available at OASP (www.oasp.gr) and the ministry (www.civilprotection.gr).
Earthquakes continue
Seismic activity continued at sea off the Santorini-Amorgos area in the Aegean on Saturday, with earthquakes measuring between 4.0 and 4.9 on the Richter scale.
The low-scale but frequent seismic activity began at the end of January began between Santorini (Thera) and Amorgos islands, and earthquake epicenters gradually moved closer to Amorgos, off its southern town of Arkesini.
As of 12:00 noon, the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens has registered the following temblors on Saturday (all refer to Richter scale):
- Two of 4.1 (at 03:52 and 05:08) and one of 4.4 (at 05:11), 17-26 km S-SW of Arkesini
- One at 4.0 (10:16), 16 km S-SW of Arkesini
- One of 4.6 (10:36), 25 km S-SW of Arkesini
- One of 4.9 (11:00), 26 km S-SW of Arkesini
- One at 4.3 (11:10), 25 km S-SW of Arkesini
- One at 4.1 (11:15), 26 km E-NE of Oia, and
- One at 4.6 (11:24), 26 km N-NW of Anafi island
(amna.gr) (incyprus)
