No major damage has been reported, but Crete, one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone regions, remains on high alert for potential aftershocks. In September 2021, a 6.3 magnitude quake near Heraklion devastated villages, damaged hundreds of homes, and displaced families, while another tremor in October 2021 claimed one life and injured over a dozen people.
According to AP, the 7.7-magnitude tremor has claimed the lives of at least 144 people in Myanmar and 10 in Thailand. As of now, no Greek citizens have been reported among the casualties or injured.
According to the Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, the epicentre of the earthquake was located in the sea area 27 kilometres southwest of Arkesini, Amorgos.
Earlier in the evening, the largest quake, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, occurred off the coast of Santorini, according to the revised information from the Geodynamic Institute. This seismic event was felt in both Attica and Crete. It happened at 22:16, with the epicenter located 14 kilometers south-southwest of Arkesini, Amorgos, and at a focal depth of 17 kilometers.
According to the daily analysis of seismic data from EKPA’s Seismology Laboratory, 102 tremors were recorded on February 9th alone. Among these, 14 had magnitudes of M≥4.0, and two reached M≥4.5, with the largest earthquake striking at 21:05:40 (local Greek time) with a magnitude of M=5.0.
“We are not yet in a position to say that we see any indication suggesting the sequence is gradually coming to an end. We are still in the middle of the process,” the director of Greece’s Geodynamic Institute, Vasilis Karastathis, told state broadcaster ERT on Thursday morning.
Warning of landslide risk due to seismic activity
Two tremors above 4.0R today - Around 30 tremors above 3.0R within three hours - Decisions made after the emergency meeting - Schools closed, events canceled
Dr. Stefano Salvi, Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology / interviewed during the IGARSS 2024 Symposium in Athens.
