By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com
We stood on the edge of the volcano, peering into it and, somewhat curiously, wondering if it would suddenly spring to life and explode with us standing there.
If it did, we surmised, then we would not run or scream of shout for it would take it with us no matter where we were or what we did, and there was nothing we could do about it. Fortunately, it just sat there, listless. Then we went for a swim in the adjacent hot springs.
Now, tho, tremors are rattling the Greek Island of Santorini, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. In the past week, more than 7,700 earthquakes have been recorded on Santorini, including a pretty shaky 5.2. As a result, Greek civil protection authorities have declared a state of emergency and some 12,000 people have left the island.
The volcano on which we stood is across a caldera from Santorini and while has been mostly dormant for centuries, is sitll an active volcano. Its last eruption was in 1950 but with all the earthquake activity it begs the question: is the volcano on Santorini about to blow?
Only nature knows for sure but earthquakes often preceded an eruption. There were earthquakes leading up to the Iceland volcano expolsion in 2023 and for more than a year prior to the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system exploded in the Reykjanes Volcanic Zone in Iceland. The Mount St. Helens eruption, which blew its top in May of 1980, was preceded by a series of small earthquakes starting in mid-March.
There was a massive explosion in the 17th century that blew the island into three parts that some historians say buried the ancient city of Atlantis. So it it does go, then it could be a major eruption.
At least it’s happening in February when there are few visitors on the island. The high tourist season for the Greek Islands is from mid-June thru mid-September. I can’t imagine the chaos that would occur if it happened then. Well, I can imagine it, actually, and don’t want to be anywhere near it. The only way on and off the island is by a ferry stystem and a small airport, tho I suppose any cruise ships in the area would help to evacuate people.
So if the volcano does blow, I sure hope it does so now rather than in a few months.
History Of Santorini Volcano Exposions
• 1610 B.C. Known as the historic” Minoan explosion”
• 197 BC
• 46 AD
• 726 AD
• 1570
• 1650
• 1707
• 1866
• 1925
• 1939
• 1950
Kevin Wilkerson is an award-winning journalist who has been publishing PubClub.com for more than 20 years. He has been to Santorini several times. This article was written by a human with no assistance from AI.
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