A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck the Mount Athos monastic community in northeastern Greece on Friday.
According to the Athens Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory, the quake’s epicenter was located 10 kilometers west-northwest of Karyes at a depth of 13.7 kilometers.
The earthquake was preceded by two smaller tremors, measuring 3.7 and 3.1 in magnitude. No damage or injuries have been reported.
The president of the Greek Organization of Seismic Planning and Protection, Efthymios Lekkas, stated that the earthquakes all occurred in the same area where similar events had taken place in previous months.
Lekkas mentioned that “seismic activity is returning to the area,” however, he reassured that there was no reason for concern at present.
According to the president, this seismic activity involves an underwater cluster of faults in the area that generates earthquakes, but it is not large enough to cause stronger tremors.
In November a 5.2 earthquake that hit Halkidiki, west of Mount Athos, was felt across Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki. The earthquake had a depth of five kilometers (three miles), which is relatively shallow, making the tremors much stronger in the broader region.
Further south the island of Evia was rattled by a 4.5 earthquake in late August. The earthquake’s focal depth was 15.4 kilometers (9.5 miles).
In March 2024 a 5.7 earthquake shook the western Peloponnese in southern Greece. The earthquake struck near the Strofades islands and was felt as far away as Athens and Crete. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
As seismologist Kostas Papazachos noted, “There is no earthquake-free region in Greece. What worries us are earthquakes over 6.5.”
Greece is one of the most seismically active regions in the world
The high seismic occurrence arises from the country’s location at the juncture of the European and African tectonic plates, with the interaction between the two generating geophysical stress and frequent tremors on the earth’s surface.
Recent seismic events such as the earthquake that hit neighboring Turkey in 2023, leading to the death of thousands of people and leveling the afflicted areas, have heightened concerns over where and when a major quake could strike in Greece.
While there are some areas across Greece with higher seismicity—such as the Ionian Islands, Crete and the Dodecanese—and others with moderate or low seismicity, Professor Lekkas clarifies that seismic history is not a definitive predictor. He cites the major quake that hit Grevena, a typically low-seismicity area, in 1995.
The geologist stresses the importance of a proactive approach, stating “Our duty is to strengthen our structures and remain vigilant, avoiding reliance on speculative predictions.”
Related: Seismologists Warn of Earthquake and Tsunami Danger in Istanbul
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