Authorities have agreed to a series of preventive interventions for Greece’s flaship island of Santorini and neighbouring Thirasia to prevent hazardous landslides.
Public order and climate crisis officials agreed to allocate 300,000 euros to what they called the maintenance of the South Aegean Region and an additional 230,000 euros for a series of structural interventions needed in Santorini and Thirasia to shield the region from natural disasters.
Landslide risks in Santorini are primarily associated with its geological and volcanic characteristics. The island’s steep morphological slopes, high seismicity, and the composition of its rocks contribute to its landslide susceptibility.
Recent studies have highlighted the potential for landslide-induced tsunamis, which could have significant impacts on Santorini and nearby islands, as well as along the coasts of the Southern Aegean Sea.
Experts warn that extreme tsunami amplitudes and short arrival times for locations within Santorini present major challenges in terms of hazard warning and mitigation.
The island’s last eruption was in 1950, and the nearby underwater volcano Kolumbo, which last erupted in 1650, is also considered active.
Both Santorini and Kolumbo are part of the Hellenic volcanic arc, a chain of mostly underwater volcanoes that sit between the African and Aegean Sea plates.
Experts rank Santorini among the most potentially hazardous volcanoes and underscore the need for preventive measures and studies to be undertaken to protect the region.