As the Santorini earthquakes continue unabated, Greek authorities have declared the small volcanic isle of Anafi, located east of the larger picturesque island, in a state of emergency.
It is the third island declared in a state of emergency after Santorini, which has borne the brunt of the thousands of tremors over the past two weeks, and neighboring Amorgos.
The decision was reached on Thursday evening by the General Secretary for Civil Protection, Vasileios Papageorgiou, as residents of the southern Aegean islands, including Santorini, Amorgos, Ios, and Anafi, continue to experience clusters of earthquakes throughout the day and night.
The official announcement reads: “The General Secretary declared the Municipality of Anafi, part of the Thira regional unit in the South Aegean region, in a state of emergency to address urgent needs and manage the consequences of the ongoing seismic activity in the area.”
The emergency measures allow for expedited infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of important facilities such as airports, ports, and roads should the need arise.
Commenting on the Santorini earthquakes and the intense frequency in the wider region, professor of Geology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA), Evi Nomikou, described it as a rare geological phenomenon.
She emphasized that both the Greek and international scientific communities are closely monitoring the active seismic zone between Santorini and Amorgos, an area that has been under extensive study for many years.
Professor Nomikou called for caution when analyzing and combining data on the seafloor’s morphology, what lies beneath the seabed, and what occurs in the deeper layers within the Earth’s interior.
