Prime Minister to chair meeting with scientists, experts on ongoing seismic activity in Cyclades
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is in open contact with the experts monitoring the development of the seismic sequence in the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos, who also connected via Zoom yesterday afternoon and spoke with professors Efthimios Lekkas and Kostas Papazachos, who had returned to Santorini in the meantime after their brief morning presence in Athens.
In this context and given the alertness of the state apparatus, a broad meeting chaired by the Prime Minister is being convened today in the Civil Protection Department on the development of the phenomenon, while seismologists will meet early in the morning to evaluate the new data on the earthquakes in Santorini.
According to information, in addition to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vasilis Kikilias, the meeting will be attended by professors Lekkas and Papazachos, Kostas Synolakis and Evi Nomikou, who is taking measurements of volcanic activity. At the same time, broader measures are expected to be announced, both for controls in Santorini, while the situation with the operation of schools and services must also be assessed more broadly, as the current restrictions expire on Friday. In the meantime, of course, the island is “emptying” at a rapid pace.
The worst-case scenario
A first comprehensive overview of the situation and the next steps to be taken was held yesterday during the meeting of a broad Inter-Ministerial Committee on Civil Protection, with the participation of the heads of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces, the regional governor of the South Aegean and the mayors of the affected islands.
According to the analysis made by Messrs. Lekkas and Papazachos, it is estimated that there will be intense seismic activity for 15 days to 3 weeks. The hope expressed is that a large earthquake between 5.5 and 6 on the Richter scale will occur to defuse the phenomenon or that the activity will gradually be limited to smaller earthquakes around 3-3+ on the Richter scale. No one, of course, can currently make a prediction about the evolution of the phenomenon.
According to information, the meeting also examined the “worst possible scenario”, in order to make it clear to the state mechanism how it should respond. It should be noted that this development is not considered the most likely at this time. The worst scenario assessed consists of a major earthquake that will cause building collapses, landslides, and possibly entrapment in buildings. In this light, the existing plans for the coordination of ground and air forces were updated, while special mention was made of the road network, in order to keep it “clear” and not hinder transport. The role of the Ministry of Health, for healthcare, as well as the Armed Forces, which have already sent personnel to the island of Santorini as a precaution, is considered crucial.
Finally, regarding buildings, earthquake protection inspections of schools and public buildings in Santorini are expected to be carried out soon by the TEE. A special discussion was also held on tourism, as the need to remain calm and not seriously damage the island's tourism brand, which is the "crown jewel" of Greek tourism, was highlighted.
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