The Greek archipelago of Santorini, known for its picturesque white houses, is not only a popular tourist destination but also one of the world's best-studied volcanic systems. Photo: Paraskevi Nomikou
The archipelago took shape after the devastating Minoan eruption some 3,600 years ago, when the volcano ejected huge quantities of ash and pumice and finally collapsed, creating the caldera walls so characteristic of Santorini. Photo: Paraskevi Nomikou
Monitoring Earthquake Activity on Santorini
MULTI-MAREX Deploys Measurement Instruments on the Seafloor
Earthquakes are common in regions with active fault lines, volcanism, and tectonic plate boundaries. This is also the case in the Aegean, where the islands and seafloor are shaped by numerous geological phenomena. Since 24 January 2025, a surge in weak to moderate earthquakes has been recorded, similar to the events of 2011 and 2012. However, unlike in previous occurrences, the current seismic activity is concentrated on the seafloor between the islands of Santorini and Amorgos, with the epicentre approximately 25 kilometres northeast of Santorini. Several hundred earthquakes have been registered in recent days.
The recent tremors are primarily caused by tectonic processes. The numerous fault zones on the seafloor are activated by stresses along the plate boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. These ongoing processes are also responsible for the volcanism on Santorini.
Many residents in the region perceive the tremors as slight vibrations, and no significant damage has been reported so far. The strongest earthquake to date occurred on 4 February, reaching a magnitude of 5.1 at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.
In light of this, MULTI-MAREX launched a rapid response mission on 2 February. Together with Greek partners, researchers are on-site to deploy measurement instruments on the seafloor and within Santorini鈥檚 caldera to monitor seismic activity.
The aim of MULTI-MAREX鈥檚 monitoring efforts is to accurately record and quantify the number, location, and magnitude of the earthquakes. In the coming days, it will become clear whether the recent increase in magnitudes and seismic intensity will continue or subside. As long as the seismic activity persists, the risk of landslides remains elevated, particularly along steep coastal areas. Additionally, very strong earthquakes鈥攕ignificantly more intense than those recorded so far鈥攃ould generate tsunami waves. Emergency warnings from Greek authorities are transmitted via cell broadcast directly to mobile devices, provided emergency notifications are enabled.
About: MULTI-MAREX
MULTI-MAREX, coordinated by Prof. Dr Heidrun Kopp (91探花 Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel), is developing a living laboratory to investigate geomarine extreme events such as earthquakes, volcanism and tsunamis in the central Mediterranean region. The project is part of the research mission mareXtreme (鈥淧aths to improved risk management in the area of marine extreme events and natural hazards鈥�) of the German Marine Research Alliance (Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung, DAM).
The Greek archipelago of Santorini, known for its picturesque white houses, is not only a popular tourist destination but also one of the world's best-studied volcanic systems. Photo: Paraskevi Nomikou
The archipelago took shape after the devastating Minoan eruption some 3,600 years ago, when the volcano ejected huge quantities of ash and pumice and finally collapsed, creating the caldera walls so characteristic of Santorini. Photo: Paraskevi Nomikou
