Greece: Tsunami Warning Centre on high alert amid seismic activity near Santorini

Experts at the National Tsunami Warning Centre have been closely monitoring the waters off Santorini due to increased seismic activity in the area over the past few days.

To enhance their ability to track sea level changes, a specialized team from the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens installed a new tide gauge on Santorini’s northeastern coast on Monday.

“This is a vital step for the early detection of tsunamis,” says Marinos Charalambakis, spokesperson for the National Tsunami Warning Center and operational scientist at the Geodynamic Institute, speaking to Kathimerini.

“The newly installed station is crucial for the immediate detection of sea-level changes that could indicate tsunami formation, allowing for timely alerts to the authorities.”

However, Charalambakis reassures that there is currently no increased risk of a tsunami, as the seismic activity remains below magnitude 5.0.

“Not every strong seismic event automatically leads to a tsunami,” Charalambakis explains.

“Several factors influence its formation, including the earthquake’s magnitude, focal depth, rupture mechanism, and the depth of the sea in the affected area,” he states, adding that, at the moment, the Tsunami Warning Center is providing authorities with all possible scenarios regarding a potential tsunami event.

Source: ekathimerini.com