04.02.2025 11:03
The hundreds of earthquakes that occurred in a short period in the Aegean Sea caused panic in Turkey and Greece. While additional flights were arranged for those trying to escape the earthquake storm in the Greek islands, geoscientist Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan pointed out two terrifying possibilities. Ercan stated that geophysicists are divided into two camps: either there will be a major destructive earthquake, or a new volcano will emerge in the region.
In the Aegean Sea, more than 500 earthquakes with magnitudes between 1 and 5 have occurred in the last week. While the earthquakes were felt in parts of Turkey, neighboring Greece has gone on high alert. While teams on the island of Santorini are on standby, schools have been closed, and additional flights and ferry services have been arranged for the evacuation of citizens from the region. As tsunami and volcanic eruption warnings continue, alarming warnings have come from geophysicist Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan.
"THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE EARTH CONTINUE IN THE AEGEAN"
In a statement titled "The birth pains of the earth continue in the middle of the Aegean Sea" made on his social media account, Prof. Dr. Ercan said, "The pain continues in the Aegean, the earthquake storm is ongoing within a circle with a radius of about 50 km surrounded by the islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Amorgos, Aniye, Skinos, and Naxos. The pain is great. What it will give birth to is uncertain. The earthquakes within this storm circle are small tremors with magnitudes between one and four, as well as small earthquakes between four and five. These small earthquakes are mostly located at a depth of 5 km. Sometimes these depths can reach 1 km, and at other times up to 20-26 km." he stated.
"NO DECREASE IN EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY FOR FOUR DAYS"
Ercan stated that there has been no orientation in the arrangement of the earthquakes, saying, "The earthquakes are generally in a circular shape, and the fractures here are in the form of very small subsidence faults. There has been no decrease in earthquake intensity for four days; the earth's pain continues day by day. The distance of the Santorini circle from Turkey is 140-150 km, and its distance from Athens is also 140-150 km, located right in the middle. The position north of Crete is about 150 km north of the South Aegean subduction zone. This section is the primary subduction earthquake formation zone. This zone extends from the island of Santorini to the Bozburun Küdür Volcano in Turkey under the sea." he said.
"EITHER A BIG EARTHQUAKE OR A NEW VOLCANO"
Pointing out two terrifying possibilities, Ercan said, "The concerning situation from a geophysical perspective is this: will a new volcano be born about 50 to 60 km north of the Santorini volcano as a result of this earthquake storm, or will there be a destructive large earthquake here? Geophysicists are divided; the majority expect a large-scale earthquake here, and it is anticipated that this earthquake will be accompanied by a tsunami wave, which will have negative effects both on the shores of the Peloponnese and on the western Anatolian shores of Turkey, as well as on the islands. The other expectation is that a non-explosive but effusive volcano will form here. The hot ash clouds produced by the effusion will affect the surrounding area." he expressed.
WILL IT AFFECT TURKEY?
Addressing the effects of the earthquakes on Turkey, Ercan said, "Tremors are occurring, and there are rumblings and roars coming from the ground. Natural events are uncontrollable. We are currently on standby, and we are just observing the events; there is no concerning situation that would warrant a warning for the Turkish coasts today. Greece is particularly continuing to evacuate those living on Santorini Island. We are waiting for the result of the pain." he stated.