Seismic Activity Shakes Santorini, Mass Exodus Ensues

The news in Greek

1. σεισμικός
   Αφορά το σεισμό ή προέρχεται από έναν σεισμό. ↩︎
2. δραστηριότητα (f.)
   Η ενέργεια ή η διαδικασία που κάποιος επιχειρεί ή εκτελεί. ↩︎
3. κυβέρνηση (f.)
   Η ομάδα ανθρώπων που έχει την ευθύνη για τη διοίκηση μιας χώρας. ↩︎
4. έτοιμος
   Σε κατάσταση να εκτελέσει κάτι χωρίς περαιτέρω προετοιμασία. ↩︎
5. επιστήμονας (m.)
   Άτομο που εργάζεται στον τομέα της επιστήμης και διεξάγει έρευνα. ↩︎
6. κατάσταση (f.)
   Ο τρόπος με τον οποίο κάτι υπάρχει ή δρα σε ένα δεδομένο χρόνο. ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Who sent help to Santorini and Amorgos after the seismic activities?

Question: What is the situation with schools in Santorini after the seismic activities?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
σεισμικός	seismic
δραστηριότητα (f.)	activity
κυβέρνηση (f.)	government
έτοιμος	ready
επιστήμονας (m.)	scientist
κατάσταση (f.)	situation

Read the full story

The Greek authorities have been on high alert, deploying the Mobile Operational Centre “Olympus” to Santorini to aid local emergency services. Additional teams, including firefighters and rescue units, have been dispatched to nearby islands such as Ios, Astypalaia, and Anafi, to support ongoing precautionary measures.

On Tuesday, a government-led multisectoral meeting was held to assess the situation and prepare for any potential escalation. Despite the high frequency of tremors, experts remain divided on the expected progression. Some, like Professor Kostas Papazachos, underscore the likelihood of a stronger quake, referencing historical seismic behaviour in the area. Others, such as Athanasios Ganas from the Geodynamic Institute, lean towards the possibility that the current swarm of quakes might not lead to a larger event.

In recent days, more than 11,000 individuals have left Santorini, seeking safety due to the tremors which are unprecedented in their frequency and intensity. The island, typically bustling with tourists, now sees eerily quiet streets reminiscent of pandemic lockdowns, as the local population prioritises safety.

Heraklis Lekkas, President of the Greek Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, has emphasized that, at present, the primary earthquakes have not been identified, urging citizens to remain vigilant but not alarmed. He noted that understanding and navigating seismic phenomena involve considerable uncertainty.

Meanwhile, some experts suggest the seismic activity could be linked to underlying volcanic processes, given the region’s history with volcanic eruptions. However, as pointed out by Professor Abraham Zelelidis, the interplay between volcanic movements and earthquake activities remains complex and requires further monitoring.

With schools on nearby islands closed as a precaution, and emergency procedures in place, the situation remains tense. Residents and visitors alike wait in anticipation, preparing for the possibility of future tremors while hoping for an eventual return to normalcy.

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