Authorities in Santorini remain on alert and have mobilized, as seismic activity on the popular Greek island remains high, with successive earthquakes.
Meanwhile, citizens and tourists appear to have chosen to abandon the island via air and sea routes, and overcrowding has been noted at the island's port.
OASP President Efthimis Lekkas, speaking on "Mega", urged people not to panic, as the island will not experience a devastating earthquake like the one in 1956.
"The seismic activity that is now taking place near Amorgos will last for several days, maintaining the same dimensions. It takes thousands of years to fill the crack. It will not produce large earthquakes. We may see magnitudes no greater than 5 on the Richter scale. People should not panic, there will not be an earthquake like the one in 1956," said Lekkas.
Meanwhile, at the meeting of the Seismologists' Commission, it was decided that schools in Thira, Anafi, Ios and Amorgos will be closed until Friday.
After a thorough review of all the data to date, it was unanimously concluded by all members of the Committees that the seismic sequence in the Anydros maritime area between Thira and Amorgos is particularly high, with 200 earthquakes since February 1 with magnitudes above 3.0 ( and with a maximum recorded magnitude of 4.9 ).
Santorini citizens are asked to avoid large gatherings inside buildings, staying near abandoned buildings, and to avoid entering and staying in the ports of Ammoudi, Armeni, Corfu, and the Old Port of Fira.
High-power generators and cables have arrived in Santorini, so that authorities can prepare to supply the island with electricity in the event of a power outage.
According to the Geodynamic Institute, a new earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale hit Santorini again at around 2:00 PM.
Meanwhile, the relevant ministries are investigating the increase in the price of air tickets from Santorini, according to Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Vasilis Economou. “If they take advantage and some people try to exploit the situation to have more profits than is necessary and what the law allows, they should be careful,” Economou said.
The Professor of Natural Disasters at the Technical University of Crete regarding the increased seismic activity in the areas between Santorini and Amorgos said that one of the scenarios is that the seismic activity comes from an underwater volcano.
"One possibility is that a fault has been activated, something similar to what caused the big earthquake in 1956. In other words, a continuation of the rupture. This was the earthquake that reached 7.5. But if an earthquake happens now, I don't think anyone expects it to be that big. So, that's one scenario. The other scenario is the activation of the volcano that is inside the caldera of the island of Santorini, and the other is an underwater volcano called Columbo, which is located a little north of Santorini, approximately 5 and 8 kilometers from the northern tip of Santorini, so, going towards Ios. That's where the underwater volcano called Columbo is located. So, these are the three scenarios and the possible impacts that they could have. That's what was examined in the area." (A2 Televizion)
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