A prolonged tremor has been recorded around the Greek island of Santorini in the southern Aegean Sea, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) reported, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
“A relatively prolonged tremor has been recorded in the Santorini area. There does not appear to be any visible damage (except that it is night time), but some sound can be heard“, the seismological center said in a post on its "Ex" profile last night. “We don't know for sure what's happening“, they added.
The tremor lasted for several hours, judging by the graphics shown in the publication.
Seismologists believe that underground liquid magma is causing the multiple tremors in the Santorini area, but they still remain uncertain about their conclusions. According to them, the movements of the earth's crust are not necessarily an indication of an impending eruption.
Athanassios Ganas, head of research at the Athens Institute of Geodynamics, told the "Protothema" newspaper that "these are multiple micro-earthquakes, probably caused by the movement of volcanic fluids".
The area northeast of Santorini has been shaken by constant tremors for weeks, with many locals having left the island. So far, seismologists have not seen any indications of an imminent major eruption.
Evi Nomiko, a geologist at the University of Athens, wrote on Facebook that similar tremors were recorded in 2011 and 2012 without serious consequences.