Santorini could be hit by double whammy of ‘volcanic eruption and tsunami’

An expert has weighed in on the state of emergency now in place across several Greek islands, warning citizens could be hit by both a tsunami and a volcanic eruption

An expert has warned the Greek island of Santorini could be hit by both “volcanic eruption” and a tsunami.

It comes after two Greek Islands – Santorini and Amorgos – announced emergency measures when thousands of unusual tremors were registered in a nearby undersea area. Scientists had initially expressed hope that the danger might have eased but a string of earthquakes has sparked fresh concern.

On Santorini alone, more than 12,800 tremors have been recorded to date. Over the past week, 11,000 of its citizens have left the island with a state of emergency in place until March 5, MKRU reports. Petr Shebalin, director of the Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory, has now weighed in with a stern warning to the people living in the area.

He said: “Such numerous ‘swarms’ of underground tremors are typical of an incipient volcanic eruption. They are typical, for example, for Iceland, where such eruptions often occur.”

Shebalin added it was likely a tsunami could follow in the wake of said “volcanic eruption”, although not “100%”. A number of coastal cities off the Aegean Sea have been warned of a potential tsunami threat, with general warning systems put on high alert.

Although Greece lies in a highly seismically active part of the world and earthquakes are frequent, it is very rare for any part of the country to experience such an intense amount of earthquakes for such an extended period.

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Experts are still trying to determine whether the multiple quakes are foreshocks, or whether they are part of an earthquake swarm of smaller quakes that could continue for weeks or months.

According to the Mirror, Santorini’s main villages are constructed along the edge of the volcano, producing the idyllic scenery that make the holiday island so popular but also raises concern. The sheer cliffs also make some areas prone to rock slides.