New barrage of tremors hit Santorini, Amorgos

At least five more earthquakes were recorded on Tuesday morning in the sea area between the Cycladic islands of Santorini and Amorgos, as the wave of tremors that have struck the popular tourist islands continued for the 17th day.

The strongest measured 4.7, according to data released by the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens.

These were preceded about half an hour after midnight on Monday by a magnitude 5.3 tremor that was felt in Athens. It is the biggest earthquake recorded in the Cyclades since the spike in seismic activity which begun on January 26. 

Could the 5.3 be the main earthquake that scientists are waiting for? “In these cases, we cannot distinguish a main earthquake,” seismologist Efthimis Lekkas told state-run broadcaster ERT. “The main earthquake must be half a degree above the mass of earthquakes that have occurred so far in order to stand out – that is, 5.5-5.6.”

Lekkas said the ongoing activity is “a classic earthquake swarm, which includes many small or intermediate tremors. One such earthquake occurred yesterday at 22.16. It was 5.3, marginally larger than the previous one that occurred last Friday,” he added. 

Greek authorities announced on Saturday that schools on Santorini, Anafi, Ios and Amorgos will remain closed until at least February 14 due to the heightened seismic activity.

More than 10,000 people had left the island of Santorini by late Tuesday, rattled by a never-ending series of earthquakes.

Source: ekathimerini.com