Expert Reassures About Earthquakes in Santorini: No Tsunami or Major Earthquake Risk

Euthymios Lekkas, President of the Organization for Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection (OAΣΠ), stated today (08.03.2025) on ERT that there is no current tsunami risk in Santorini and its surrounding areas, nor any threat of a major earthquake. Speaking about the seismic activity in Santorini, he noted that it has returned to normal levels after a month of intense seismicity involving approximately 23,000 tremors. A tsunami, he explained, only occurs after a strong earthquake exceeding 5.5-6 on the Richter scale. The recorded earthquakes in the region ranged from 1 to 5.3 on the Richter scale. Despite the recent increase in seismic activity, Professor Lekkas assured residents and visitors that there is no cause for concern. He emphasized that the difficult period has passed, and normalcy has been restored. Santorini and nearby islands are fully equipped with seismographs, GPS, and necessary instruments to monitor seismic phenomena effectively. Buildings constructed without proper studies over the Caldera may need review, though this falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment rather than OAΣΠ.