The Greek island of Santorini has captured global attention, having been shaken by a series of severe earthquakes since the end of January.
With thousands of tremors recorded in just a few days and growing concerns about the nearby Kolumbo submarine volcano and the one at Santorini itself, many are questioning whether this seismic activity could signal a potential eruption.
Yesterday, the University of Athens’ Interdisciplinary Committee for Handling Threats and Crises announced that a total of 6,400 earthquakes were registered in the Santorini and Amorgos islands region between January 26 and February 3.
This situation has understandably forced thousands of people to voluntarily evacuate the island looking for safety in mainland Greece and the capital city, Athens, in particular.
Below is a detailed description of the events over the past week and an attempt to analyze the risks posed by Santorini’s earthquake saga.
The chronology of the Santorini earthquakes emergency
People outside academia and the locals began noticing the seismic swarm on Saturday, February 1, with over 200 undersea tremors recorded near the island.
The epicenters were concentrated to the northeast, in the sea area between the island and Amorgos. Most quakes were minor, below a magnitude of 4.0, but their frequency raised alarms among seismologists.
Authorities began monitoring the situation more closely, though no evacuations were initiated at this stage, and people remained calm. However, that would soon change.
Sunday, February 2nd
Seismic activity intensified on Sunday, February 2, with a notable 4.9-magnitude earthquake striking early in the morning, raising questions about what was going on.
Several more followed, ranging from magnitudes of 3.9 to 4.2 on the Richter scale.
Minor rockslides were reported along the cliffs of Santorini’s caldera, prompting Greek authorities to restrict access to areas identified as high risk. Discussions about evacuation plans have begun among Greek authorities as residents voice their safety concerns.
The Greek government held an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. During the meeting, Greek authorities decided not to advise the residents of Santorini to evacuate but instead sent teams from the Greek EMAK rescue unit to monitor the situation and provide assistance.
It was also decided that schools would remain closed for the coming week.
Monday, February 3rd
The strongest earthquake at that point struck on Monday, February, 3rd.
A magnitude 5.1 tremor struck at 2:17 PM local time, prompting Greek authorities to deploy additional emergency teams to Santorini. They also established temporary shelters near hospitals as a precautionary measure, fearing the worst.
Schools across Santorini and nearby islands remained closed, and public gatherings were banned to ensure safety. Thousands of residents and tourists began leaving the island voluntarily via ferries and flights.
Reports of exorbitant prices for airplane and ferry tickets emerged, prompting widespread condemnation. In response, airlines reduced their fares and added additional routes from Santorini to mainland Greece to meet the increased demand.
Tuesday, February 4th
Seismic activity continued shaking not only Santorini but all the nearby islands as well, on February 4.
Over 300 tremors were recorded on that single day. The largest earthquake on Tuesday reached a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale and was felt across much of Santorini at 4:46 A.M. local time. By this point, more than 6,000 people had evacuated the island via ferries and flights.
Scientists warned that while these earthquakes were tectonic, they could potentially trigger secondary hazards such as landslides or small, localized tsunamis.
Greek authorities advised those who decided to stay on the island to avoid routes with cliffs and coastal areas.
Seismologists also installed two new monitoring stations on the islet of Anydros, where many quakes have originated, and another on the island of Anafi to track the seismic activity closely. “We are monitoring the situation closely, but at this stage, there is no reason to panic,” said Efthymios Lekkas, Greece’s leading seismologist.
Experts also placed four new seismographs inside the crater of the nearby underwater Kolumbo volcano and along a nearby underwater fault. These devices, equipped with specialized sensors, will collect data on small earthquakes, ground movement, and changes in the chemical composition of seawater.
The research is part of an ongoing effort by scientists from Germany and Greece, including Professor Evi Nomikou from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).
Wednesday, February 5th
The strongest earthquake yet occurred on the night of Wednesday, February 5.
A magnitude 5.2 tremor struck at 9:09 PM local time, causing widespread panic among residents and the few visitors who remain on the island alike.
Voluntary evacuations accelerated despite no significant structural damage to buildings or infrastructure being reported on the island.
By this point, over 11,000 individuals had left Santorini as Greek authorities began struggling to manage transportation logistics amid high winds that temporarily disrupted ferry operations earlier in the day.
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis addressed the nation on Wednesday night following the strongest quake yet, urging calm while emphasizing that all necessary precautions were being taken to protect residents and visitors alike.
“First and foremost, the state must trust science. We have done this in the management of other crises as well. We are doing the same now. Obviously, nobody can speak with absolute certainty,” the Greek premier said.
Thursday, February 6th
As of Thursday, February 6, seven additional significant earthquakes above a magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale had been recorded near Santorini.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Greece officially declared a state of emergency for Santorini to help with swift resource allocation and emergency response efforts. It will last for one month, and will automatically expire on March 3.
While seismic activity appeared to be shifting northeast toward the vicinity of the Kolumbo volcano, experts reiterated that there was no immediate indication of volcanic unrest.
The Greek Tourism Ministry is reportedly preparing response plans to address the potential impact on tourism following the series of earthquakes affecting the islands of Santorini, Amorgos, Ios, and Anafi.
Could Santorini’s Kolumbo volcano erupt?
Kolumbo is a volcano that lies under the Aegean Sea. It is located about seven kilometers (4 miles) northeast of Santorini’s caldera and it is located along the Hellenic Volcanic Arc.
It is one of the most active and hazardous volcanoes in the Aegean Sea but has remained dormant since its last eruption almost four centuries ago, in 1650 AD. That eruption was catastrophic: it blasted pumice and ash across the region, releasing toxic gases that caused fatalities on Santorini and triggered a tsunami that affected coastal areas of much of the Aegean islands and the Greek mainland.
However, despite its destructive history, scientists believe that Kolumbo is unlikely to erupt soon.
Studies on the volcano have intensified in the last few days. These studies indicate that its magma chamber will require thousands of years to build enough pressure for another major eruption. Historical data also suggests long intervals between eruptions—approximately every few thousand years. Currently, there is no evidence of magma movement beneath Kolumbo during this seismic swarm.
Nonetheless, Santorini itself is part of a larger volcanic field that includes Kolumbo and other submarine cones. Its caldera has produced some of history’s most explosive eruptions—most notably the Minoan eruption around 1600 BC.
Seismologists have monitored the region closely in the last few days. The good news is that they have found no indications of magma movement beneath Santorini’s caldera during this current seismic crisis.
Nonetheless, small-scale eruptions within the caldera could be possible, as such events have happened in past decades.