Thousands flee as Greece declares state of emergency amid swarm of earthquakes. Experts warn of potential volcanic eruption and tsunamis.
Santorini, a renowned tourist destination in Greece , faces the looming threat of volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The island has been besieged by a staggering 6,400 minor and moderate earthquakes this week, with tremors occurring sometimes just minutes apart. In response to this alarming seismic activity, Greece 's government declared a state of emergency yesterday, prompting approximately 10,000 islanders to flee their homes.
On Wednesday, a particularly powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 struck Santorini, marking the strongest tremor recorded since seismographs began monitoring the region on January 26th. The epicenters of these earthquakes are situated near the underwater volcano Kolumbo, located about five miles northeast of the island. While officials have refrained from directly linking the recent seismic activity to Kolumbo or Nea Kameni, the dormant volcano within Santorini's caldera, some experts posit that the tremors could be indicative of an impending eruption at Kolumbo.The last major eruption of Kolumbo occurred in 1650, spewing ash that was visible as far away as Turkey. Pyroclastic flows, characterized by their swift movement and scorching temperatures, engulfed the region, resulting in the tragic loss of 70 lives. Scientists generally attribute earthquakes to the movement of tectonic plates, the colossal fragments that compose the Earth's crust. Santorini's location in the tectonically active southern Aegean Sea suggests that the current quakes could stem from the friction between these plates, potentially irritating the volcanic system that permeates the island. Geology professor Avraam Zelilidis of the University of Patras has proposed that the swarm of earthquakes is directly linked to volcanic activity. Conversely, some scientists maintain that the seismic activity is unrelated to volcanic processes. Michele Paulatto, an advanced research fellow in volcano geophysics, asserts that while there has been a slight increase in activity at both Kolumbo and Santorini volcanoes, it is not sufficient to warrant an elevated volcanic alert level. Paulatto emphasizes that earthquakes can act as precursors to eruptions, but he is unaware of any such occurrences at Kolumbo or Santorini.
EARTHQUAKES TSUNAMIS VOLCANOES SANTORINI GREECE EMERGENCY KOLUMBO NEAKAMENI
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