Earthquakes in Santorini: It does not exclude attentions of the EKPA – Over 2,500 vibrations from June to February in the Santorini – Columbus area

With a long announcement – analysis the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, through the Seismology Laboratory of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, analyzes the situation between Amorgos and Amorgos. As stated among others: “The image presented by seismic activity in the region between Santorini and Amorgos, with more and more earthquakes with magnitudes greater than or equal to 4.0, although it may display cluster characteristics (a large number of earthquakes with similar sizes), it is not excluded that it has accessibility characteristics”. CORVERSE In the announcement, the scientists of the EKPA quote all the elements through the observation of the Seismology Laboratory of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, in real time of the evolution of seismic activity in the volcanic complex of Santorini, as well as in the Santorini – Amorgos zone, near the island of Andros. In June 2024 microseismic activity began to appear within Caldera, Santorini, which intensified since mid-September. This is the first time since the period 2011-2012 that appears significant microseismic activity within Caldera. As part of this activity, the CRP Seismology Laboratory has installed permanent seismological stations in Santorini since 2011. On the contrary, the area of the sub-sea Columbus volcano, ~8 km northeast of Santorini, appears over time more active seismics. The microseismic epicenters in Santorini were mainly located in Nea Kameni and the wider region of Imeroviglio- Fame, along the ‘burn line’ with a BA-ND address. At the same time, micro-seismic activity occurred in the area east of Colombo. ADVERSE Overall, from June 2024 to January 25, 2025, they were identified with modern methods of mechanical learning (Machine-Learning) over 1,200 earthquakes in the Santorini-Columbo region, with a larger one that occurred on January 25, 08:57:25 hour of Greece, centered on the NA coast of Thirasia, with a magnitude of 3.8. On 26 January a new group of earthquakes appeared east of the Columbus volcano, with a strong outbreak the following day. By 29 January over 1,300 earthquakes were detected using learning engineering. By 1 February over 2,500 earthquakes had been detected, while the unusually high-productive earthquakes with sizes greater than 4.0 began. Seismicity spread to the area around the Anhydro island. According to daily seismic data analysis data of the CRF Seismology Laboratory, from 1 February to 4 February at 09:00 43 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than or equal to 4.0 occurred. The largest earthquakes occurred on 3 February 14:17:41 and 4 February 04:46:07 with a size of 5.0. Santorini’s dense seismological network, with stations belonging to the Single National Seismograph Network (EDS), in which the CRF Seismology Laboratory participates, is reinforced by the installation of new instruments in both Santorini and the surrounding islands. In the context of the multiparametric monitoring of the Volcanic area of Santorini, particular importance is attached to the study of territorial distortion and how it is linked to seismicity. The EKP Geophysics Laboratory has installed since 2011 a permanent satellite geodetic station GNSS/GPS in Imerovigli (SANT station), while since 1994 it has been installed and remeasured periodically non-permanent network of GPS stations in 21 locations in Thera, Thirasia and New Kameni. The daily resolution of data by the permanent station (SANT) highlighted a change in the region’s kinetic behavior since August 2024. After the 2011-2012 activity the aneurysm of territorial velocity depicted the tectonic movement of the wider area in the horizontal direction (NA relative to ITRF2014) and stable in the vertical. As of August 2024, the horizontal vector was rotated to an East-East direction. Northeast, and simultaneous elevation at a rate comparable to that of 2011-2012. For the best spatial study of the territorial movement will be performed a recount of the non-permanent GPS network of the area. The aim is to determine precisely the spatial distribution of territorial distortion throughout the area of Thera-Therasia, and to study how it is connected to the two volcanic centers, New Kameni and Columbus.