Greece Earthquake Swarm: Emergency Declared as Thousands of Tremors Hit Santorini and Amorgos

Athens, Greece officials declared a state of emergency on the island of Amorgos on Wednesday as a series of earthquakes continue to shake the southeastern Aegean Sea region.

This follows a similar declaration for the nearby island of Santorini on February 7, after thousands of unusual tremors were detected in an underwater zone close to these islands, including Ios and Anafi.

Since January 26, the University of Athens’ crisis committee reported approximately 12,000 earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 1 have been recorded.

Over 12,800 earthquakes were recorded in the Santorini-Amorgos zone between February 1 and 10, with the strongest, an M5.3 event, registered on February 10.

Experts had hoped the seismic activity might be subsiding; however, a recent series of quakes, each around magnitude 5, has raised new alarms. Seismologists have observed that the epicenter of these earthquakes is gradually shifting northward toward Amorgos.

The swarm’s location suggests the potential involvement of the Kolumbos submarine volcano, located just 6.5 km northeast of Santorini.

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 emergency status will allow for the swift allocation of resources and the mobilization of emergency services.

There has already been a considerable deployment of fire brigades, law enforcement, coast guards, and military personnel, particularly on Santorini, where many residents and seasonal workers have evacuated the island.
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 increased seismic activity has triggered numerous landslides across Santorini, affecting the natural and built environments.

Civil Protection authorities have implemented preventive measures, including restricting access to high-risk zones and closing sections of roads deemed unsafe.

The Greek ministry of civil protection has declared a state of emergency for the island until March 3.