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Hans India
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Greece struck by 6.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by Tsunami warning
An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck off the coast of Crete in Greece on Thursday, said the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The earthquake also prompted the European authorities to issue a tsunami warning. The tremor struck at 6.19 a.m, 58 km north-northeast of Elounda in northeastern Crete, and was 60 km deep, according to initial estimates. Reports suggest that there have been no injuries or damage, but the tremor was felt across Crete and nearby islands, rattling the locals. According to reports, several aftershocks followed, and the fire services of Crete have been put on alert. Speaking to national broadcaster ERT, the president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthimios Lekkas, stated that it was likely that the epicenter of the earthquake was located in the sea. Greece sits on major fault lines and experiences frequent seismic activity, and is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe, situated along a complex fault boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Earlier on Monday, schools in a region of Greece's Evia Island were closed as authorities took precautionary measures after a series of earthquakes shook the area over the weekend. According to the National Observatory of Athens, at least three tremors -- ranging in magnitude from 4.1 to 4.5 on the Richter scale -- were recorded since Sunday, followed by numerous aftershocks. The epicenter was located in central Evia, near the village of Prokopi. The strongest quake, a 4.5-magnitude tremor in the early hours of Monday, was felt in the Greek capital, Athens, approximately 80 km to the south, Xinhua news agency reported. According to Giorgos Tsapourniotis, mayor of the Mantoudi-Limni-Agia Anna municipality, the tremors damaged at least 20 houses, shops, and a monastery. Another earthquake jolted Greece on May 13 with a magnitude of 6.1, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
6.0 magnitude earthquake prompts tsunami warnings in Greece
A powerful earthquake struck near the Greek island of Kasos early Wednesday, prompting tsunami warnings and widespread alerts across the southeastern Aegean Sea. The tremor occurred at approximately 1:51 a.m. Eastern European Time, with its epicenter located about 14 miles southeast of Fry, Greece, at a depth of 62.5 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake was felt across Crete, Rhodes, Kos and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean. Despite the strength of the quake, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection issued emergency alerts advising residents and tourists in affected areas, including Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos, to move away from coastal regions and seek higher ground due to the potential tsunami risk. Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, noted that the quake's depth likely mitigated its impact on the surface. However, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘Move away from the coast immediately'- Irish holidaymakers issued Tsunami warning in popular European sun spot
A MAJOR Tsunami alert has been issued to holidaymakers in Greece – with tourists being told to "move away from the coast immediately". It comes after a strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the holiday hotspot Crete and Rhodes in Advertisement 3 The quake was strongly felt in Crete and Rhodes Credit: X / @ForecastGreece 3 Authorities are advising both locals and holidaymakers of a 'potential tsunami risk' Credit: X / @ariel_oseran According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the quake with a depth of 62.5 kilometres was strongly felt in The President of Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthymios Lekkas, told Greece's public broadcaster that the main characteristic of this strong tremor is its "focal depth was at 60 kilometres". He said: "This means the seismic waves reached Kasos and Karpathos significantly weakened - and even more so in Crete - resulting, according to initial data and the first accounts from residents, in no reported impacts so far, although of course we do not yet have a complete picture. Advertisement Read more in Travel "It was strongly felt across Crete, as well as in Rhodes, Kos and throughout the southeastern Aegean." Shortly after the quake, people in Rhodes, Karapathos and Kasos were sent an emergency alert about "a potential tsunami risk", the broadcaster reported. Authorities are advising both locals and holidaymakers of a "potential tsunami risk" in Rhodes, Karpathos, and Kasos. They are being strongly advised to stay away from the coastline and to seek higher ground as a precaution. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection took to They said: "A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km SE of Kasos. Risk of a possible Tsunami in your area. Watch moving moment herd of elephants form ring of protection around calves as 5.2-mag earthquake rocks world-famous zoo "Move away from the coast immediately." The epicentre of the earthquake was the tiny Aegean island of Kasos, according to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens. Advertisement More than 624,000 people reside in Crete, with around a third of the island's population living in the capital, Heraklion. 'MOVE AWAY IMMEDIATELY' The region lies in one of the most seismically active zones in Europe, where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. It's generally thought that any earthquake over 6.0 can cause damage if it hits a populated area. Roughly 100 earthquakes with a magnitude between 6.1 and 6.9 are recorded each year worldwide, according to Michigan Tech University. Advertisement It comes after the idyllic Greek island of Santorini was plunged into a state of emergency in February as a total of 7,700 tremors shook the isle in two weeks. Around 7,700 earthquakes have shaken the Santorini-Amorgos seismic zone since January 26. 3 The US Geological Survey recorded a lower quake at 6.1 magnitude Credit: Getty
Observer
07-02-2025
- Observer
Week of tremors exposes dangers of Santorini's construction boom
SANTORINI: Hundreds of small earthquakes that shook Greece's tourist hotspot of Santorini this week have revived concerns about the safety of a decades-long construction boom along the island's sheer, volcanic cliffs, experts said. No serious damage has been reported, but scientists have warned that the seismic activity could last for weeks and have not ruled out the possibility of a larger quake to come. That worries experts, some of whom have long questioned the sustainability of turning the small island of quaint villages into one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations. "They wanted to develop the island and didn't pay attention to environmental and safety issues," said Dimitris Papanikolaou, professor of geology at the University of Athens and former head of Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation. The result, he said, was clear today: luxury hotels with pools and jacuzzis hanging off Santorini's landslide-prone slopes, where the volcanic soil is soft and unstable. "Nothing should have been built in this zone," Papanikolaou said. "It's a danger zone for as long as the seismic activity lasts." The tremors prompted the government to declare a state of emergency on Thursday. It shut schools, deployed the army. Meanwhile, thousands of people left on planes and ferries. Authorities announced landslide warnings for five areas, including Santorini's main port and cordoned off areas along the caldera — the rim of an ancient, sunken volcano whose sides plunge into the clear waters of the Aegean. Excessive tourism has raised concerns about water shortages and overcrowding across Greece in recent years. But Santorini is an extreme example. Millions visit its whitewashed cobbled streets and blue-domed buildings each year. Natural disasters are not new to the island, which was formed by a volcanic eruption in 1600 BC and which experienced a devastating earthquake in 1956. A modern building boom began in the 1980s to lure back tourists. Even before the latest earthquakes, experts called for studies to assess whether buildings needed reinforcements. In 2021, a report by the Hellenic Society for Environment and Cultural Heritage commissioned by the island's authorities said there was an urgent need for a soil engineering study to assess the safety of the buildings on the caldera. Citing data from the Technical Chamber of Greece, it found many buildings had no permits, nearly a quarter of which where tourism businesses. "It is crucial... to immediately check the arbitrary construction taking place within the caldera," the report said. The environment ministry halted construction on the caldera in November for a year and has obliged owners to complete risk assessments or face having permits removed, said Dimitris Bakoyiannis, its secretary general for spatial planning and urban environment. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged calm when he visited the island on Friday and defended construction standards in an interview. "We have a very strict building code which is applied across the country, especially in those areas that are more earthquake prone," he said. "That's why we feel very, very confident that everything that could be done, has been done." Many residents have become used to earthquakes over the years, even if the past week has been extreme. But they do worry about the upcoming holiday season, which begins in May. — Reuters
The Independent
07-02-2025
- The Independent
Earthquake swarm in Greece raises fresh fears over island tourism boom
A swarm of earthquakes has rattled the Greek island of Santorini, one of the country's busiest tourist destinations, raising concerns about the stability of the region's dramatic, volcanic cliffs amidst a decades-long construction boom. Scientists warn the seismic activity could persist for weeks and haven't ruled out the possibility of a larger quake. This has sparked anxieties among experts who have long questioned the sustainability of Santorini's rapid development from quaint villages into a bustling tourist hotspot. The tremors prompted the government to declare a state of emergency on Thursday. It shut schools, deployed the army. Meanwhile, thousands of people left on planes and ferries. Authorities announced landslide warnings for five areas, including Santorini's main port, and cordoned off areas along the caldera - the rim of an ancient, sunken volcano whose sides plunge into the clear waters of the Aegean. 'They wanted to develop the island and didn't pay attention to environmental and safety issues,' said Dimitris Papanikolaou, professor of geology at the University of Athens and former head of Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation. The result, he said, was clear today: luxury hotels with pools and jacuzzis hanging off Santorini's landslide-prone slopes, where the volcanic soil is soft and unstable. 'Nothing should have been built in this zone,' Papanikolaou said. 'It's a danger zone for as long as the seismic activity lasts.' Excessive tourism has raised concerns about water shortages and overcrowding across Greece in recent years. But Santorini is an extreme example. Millions visit its whitewashed cobbled streets and blue-domed buildings each year. Mathaios Kourgialis, who owns a small hotel at the top of the caldera, has received several cancellations this week. 'If we continue for another couple of months with this situation, the season will be lost,' he said Natural disasters are not new to the island, which was formed by a volcanic eruption in 1600 BC and which experienced a devastating earthquake in 1956. A modern building boom began in the 1980s to lure back tourists. Even before the latest earthquakes, experts called for studies to assess whether buildings needed reinforcements. In 2021, a report by the Hellenic Society for Environment and Cultural Heritage commissioned by the island's authorities said there was an urgent need for a soil engineering study to assess the safety of the buildings on the caldera. Citing data from the Technical Chamber of Greece, it found many buildings had no permits, nearly a quarter of which where tourism businesses. 'It is immediately check the arbitrary construction taking place within the caldera,' the report said. The environment ministry halted construction on the caldera in November for a year and has obliged owners to complete risk assessments or face having permits removed, said Dimitris Bakoyiannis, its secretary general for spatial planning and urban environment. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged calm when he visited the island on Friday and defended construction standards in an interview with Reuters. During his visit, Mr Mitsotakis inspected emergency preparedness facilities and announced a three million-euro (£2.5 million) funding package for constructing an emergency evacuation route in the southern part of the island. 'We are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. That's what a serious and organised state must do,' Mr Mitsotakis said during a meeting with local officials. The heightened seismic activity has prompted authorities to implement additional precautionary measures, including restricting traffic in areas listed as vulnerable to rockslides. Army trucks have also brought electricity generators to Santorini, while rescuers were deployed earlier this week. Mr Mitsotakis visited Santorini a day after the government declared a state of emergency to allow authorities to have faster access to state resources.
