Greece earthquakes force continued school closures on islands

ATHENS

Greece on Sunday has extended school closures for another week on four Aegean islands due to ongoing seismic activity.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced from social media that schools in volcanic island of Santorini, Yamurgi, Niyoz, and Anafiya will remain closed for another week as the islands continue to be affected by seismic movements.

The decision follows a state of emergency declared on the islands, where schools had already been closed for two weeks due to the ongoing situation.

Meanwhile, scientists from two government committees provided an update on the seismic activity in the region, particularly in the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos.

They confirmed that while the seismic activity is in a relative lull, it remains linked to submarine faults and a combination of tectonic and magmatic processes.

Increased "ground deformation" has been also noted in the wider Santorini area, which is continuously monitored.

Scientists say, around 1,300 earthquakes recorded in the marine area of Anydros between Thera and Amorgos since February 1, the largest having a magnitude of 5.3.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, a highly regarded scientist and Chair of Earth Sciences at the Academy of Athens explained that the earthquakes are becoming stronger and more widespread.

He suggested that, given this situation, it is too early to completely dismiss the possibility of a volcanic eruption in Santorini.

Santorini has erupted three times in the 20th century—1925-1926, 1939-1941, and in 1950.