Efthymios Lekkas, President of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, addressed the growing concerns regarding landslide risks in Santorini amidst ongoing seismic activity during a press conference Wednesday at the Ministry of Civil Protection.
The discussion was led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and focused on the latest seismic data and the proactive management of natural hazards in the Cyclades, particularly Santorini and Amorgos.
Lekkas highlighted that the landslide risk along the entire length of Santorini’s caldera is significant, with certain areas being at higher risk due to the island’s unique geological features. He explained that, based on extensive mapping of the terrain, five key locations were identified for immediate action: the Old Port of Fira, the Port of Athinios, the road network of Ormos, the areas of Ammoudi and Armeni in Oia, and the settlement of Korfou on Thirasia Island.
Athinios, in particular, was flagged as a high-risk area due to the large influx of approximately 1.5 million visitors annually. Lekkas pointed out that measures are already underway to mitigate landslide risks in this area.
The Old Port of Fira is another area under close watch, as it hosts around 2 million visitors each year. With 1.5 million cable car boardings alone, Lekkas noted the need for maintaining and reinforcing projects initially implemented a decade ago. Regarding Ammoudi, below Oia, Lekkas raised concerns about the unregulated residential development over the past 30 years and discussed proposed projects aimed at reducing the risks in this area.
Lekkas reaffirmed the importance of continual monitoring and preparation to protect both residents and the millions of tourists who visit the island every year.
He noted that Santorini is an island shaped by volcanic presence and seismic activity: “Santorini was shaped by these geodynamic hazards, mainly volcanic, seismic, landslide and erosion hazards. These hazards also created the unique volcanic complex of Santorini,” said Lekkas. “It is natural that these risks manifest themselves periodically and of course we will deal in this specific case with the landslide risk, which is a risk that constantly shapes the unique slopes of the Caldera.”