‘Volcanic eruption cannot be ruled out,’ says professor

The prospect of a volcanic eruption cannot be ruled out as part of the ongoing seismic activity affecting Santorini since late January, a specialized authority has told Greek TV. 

Speaking to Greek TV station MEGA, Professor Kostas Synolakis, a natural disaster expert, refrained from predicting how long the earthquake swarm affecting Santorini might last.

However, he offered reassuring remarks, stating: “If I lived there, I would return home – provided my house was well built and complied with modern building regulations.”

Powerful seismic activity has been recorded between Santorini and Amorgos since Tuesday morning, following a 5.3-magnitude quake – the strongest so far – on Monday night.

Synolakis outlined three possible scenarios: a best-case scenario in which seismic activity gradually fades and ceases, similar to an event just over a decade ago; a major earthquake of unpredictable magnitude; or a small-scale volcanic eruption at Nea Kameni – an uninhabited island within Santorini’s caldera – or the Kolumbo submarine volcano, located about 8 km northeast of the island.

Elaborating on the volcanic eruption scenario, he reassured that it is not a cause for fear.

Santorini has experienced three small volcanic eruptions over the past century, “all without casualties, as far as we know,” Synolakis noted. 

Source: ekathimerini.com