Experts investigate ‘strange phenomenon’ behind Mount Athos quakes

Seismologists are closely analyzing the earthquake sequence near Mount Athos following Saturday’s 5.3-magnitude tremor, the strongest recorded in the area so far.

“This is a strange phenomenon that started 14 months ago,” said Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece’s Organization of Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection (OASP), in a televised interview Sunday. “We hope this was the main quake, but we can’t say for certain. It’s a sequence with many ups and downs.”

Lekkas noted that the fault lies offshore and cannot be precisely located. “What’s positive is that the epicenters are clustered in a tight area, so there’s no sign of spread to nearby zones,” he said, adding that the fault could potentially produce quakes up to 5.7 magnitude.

Athanasios Ganas of the Geodynamic Institute told Kathimerini the activity is concentrated along a northwest-southeast undersea fault and includes at least seven tremors above magnitude 4 in the last ten months.

A government seismic risk committee convened after Saturday’s quake, urging caution in older monastic buildings and steep terrain. While no wider fault activation has been detected, officials will continue monitoring the region closely.

Source: ekathimerini.com