Mediterranean Travel Forecast & Advice
- CRETE,Greece – The island of Crete has experienced two earthquakes within a week,raising concerns among tourists and residents.The latest tremor, striking at 5:19 a.m.
- The epicenter was located off the coast of the popular vacation destination.
- Sebastian Manstetten, with the German crisis warning provider A3M, noted that Greece is located in a seismically active zone.
Crete Shaken by Pair of Earthquakes; Experts Say Risk Remains
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CRETE,Greece – The island of Crete has experienced two earthquakes within a week,raising concerns among tourists and residents.The latest tremor, striking at 5:19 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 22, registered a magnitude of 6.1, according to seismologists.
The epicenter was located off the coast of the popular vacation destination. This follows a similar earthquake on May 14, which also measured 6.1, with its epicenter between the islands of Kasos and Karpathos.
Seismic Activity ‘Not Unexpected’
Sebastian Manstetten, with the German crisis warning provider A3M, noted that Greece is located in a seismically active zone. “It reminds that Greece—as much as it is indeed also a popular tourism area—is in a seismic highly active zone.And it is always possible that there are other earthquakes,” manstetten told IPPEN.MEDIA.
dr. Andreas Steinberg, an expert from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Raw Materials (BGR), clarified that the two recent earthquakes are tectonic in nature and unrelated. “The two earthquakes are tectonic in nature and are not related,” Steinberg said. “They are also not directly related to the earthquakes at Santorini.”
Historical Context
Steinberg added that seismic activity in the region is not unusual. “Tectonic quake in the Mediterranean and especially in front of Crete are historically known – this goes back to the antiquity. At the point in front of Crete, where the quake has taken place today, a larger earthquake (magnitude larger than 7) occurred nearby in 1856. From the tectonic region, the current earthquake is not unexpected and actually nothing unusual.”
Background: Tectonic Tremors in the Mediterranean
According to Steinberg, the region is part of the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African plate moves northward under the Aegean plate at a rate of approximately ten millimeters per year. “In this so -called Hellenic subduction zone there is a northern movement of the African plate of around ten millimeters under the Aegean plate. This creates two zones in the Mediterranean: a volcanic back north of Crete near Santorini and a tectonic back directly near Crete,” Steinberg told IPPEN.MEDIA.
Potential for Aftershocks and Triggered Events
Steinberg indicated that smaller aftershocks are likely following the crete earthquake, though they may not be widely felt. He also mentioned the possibility of voltage transmission,where the built-up tension from one earthquake could potentially trigger another in a different zone.
“Occasionally, such tectonic earthquakes can also trigger each other indirectly. That means: If an earthquake has built up tensions, the tension can transfer to another zone and may trigger an earthquake there. This is also not an unusual process. As an unlikely, he also assesses the chance that ‘a strong earthquake as a result as today’s occurrence’,” Steinberg said.
Travel Risk assessment
Regarding the risk to tourists, Manstetten stated that “Like all trips, a trip to Greece is associated with a risk, but with a consistently low risk.” He advised travelers to be aware of the “basic risk” associated with earthquakes in Greece but not to let it deter them from visiting.
Manstetten also praised the preparedness of Greek authorities. “Greek civil protection and the disaster protection authorities are incredibly well positioned. Even with today’s earthquakes, they have shown again that they are always more careful.” He cited the example of tsunami warnings sent via SMS following Thursday’s earthquake.
Crete Earthquakes: Your Questions Answered
Here’s a breakdown of recent earthquakes in crete and what you should know.
What happened in Crete recently?
The island of Crete, Greece, experienced two earthquakes within a week. The latest one struck at 5:19 a.m. local time on thursday, May 22nd, and registered a magnitude of 6.1. The epicenter of this earthquake was off the coast of Crete. A similar earthquake, also measuring 6.1, occured on May 14th, with its epicenter between the islands of Kasos and Karpathos.
What is the magnitude of the recent earthquakes?
Both of the recent earthquakes measured a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale.
No, according to Dr. Andreas Steinberg, an expert from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Raw Materials (BGR), the two earthquakes were tectonic in nature and unrelated. They were also not directly connected to earthquakes that have occurred near Santorini.
Is seismic activity in Crete unusual?
No, seismic activity in this region is not unusual. The area is seismically active and has experienced earthquakes throughout history.
Why is Crete seismically active?
Crete is located in a seismically active zone due to its location within the Hellenic subduction zone.Here, the African plate is moving northward under the Aegean plate.
What is the Hellenic subduction zone?
The Hellenic subduction zone is where the African tectonic plate slides beneath the Aegean tectonic plate. This movement causes the frequent earthquakes in the region. The African plate moves northward at approximately ten millimeters per year.
Could there be aftershocks?
Yes, smaller aftershocks are likely to occur following the recent earthquakes, although they may not be widely felt.
Can one earthquake trigger another?
Yes, its possible. The built-up tension from one earthquake can