Heightened concern surrounds Mount Athos following two significant earthquakes that struck on Saturday afternoon, sparking fears among seismologists of potentially stronger seismic events in the coming days. The epicenter was located near the Xenophontos and Dochiariou Monasteries, an area that has shown persistent seismic activity over the past year.
According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the first quake measured 5.3 magnitude and occurred at 15:46, with a depth of 12.5 km. A second, smaller tremor measuring 3.8 magnitude followed minutes later at 15:53.
Lekkas: “The phenomenon has returned – A stronger quake cannot be ruled out”
Speaking to ERT, the president of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), Efthymios Lekkas, described the activity as “unusual” and noted that the seismic swarm had peaked last year, with experts assuming it had subsided. “Now it seems to be returning, possibly with greater intensity,” he said, adding that the activity is under close observation due to its unpredictable nature.
Papazachos: “The fault is small but persistent – The cycle hasn’t ended”
Seismologist Kostas Papazachos echoed concerns, pointing out that while the fault in question is not large, it has been continuously active for months. “The problem is that the activity isn’t fading. There’s a constant sequence of aftershocks and we cannot exclude the possibility of a stronger event,” he warned.
Papadopoulos: “I’m not certain the 5.3 was the mainshock”
Veteran seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos added further uncertainty, revealing that slow pre-seismic activity had been observed in the region since mid-2024. “This may not have been the mainshock. We’re still evaluating the situation,” he posted on social media, referring to earlier alerts sent to OASP officials regarding the risk of a magnitude 6 earthquake.
Tselentis: Potential damage to old monasteries – Aftershocks continue
Seismologist Akis Tselentis warned that older monastic buildings may have suffered structural damage due to their age and architectural vulnerability. He noted that while the aftershock sequence appears normal for now, assessments are ongoing. “We may be facing significant damage in some monasteries,” he commented.
Damage reported at Simonos Petra Monastery – Monks on alert
Monks from Simonos Petra Monastery reported shaking strong enough to cause visible damage: a chimney collapse, a chandelier falling in the dining hall, and widespread cracks in walls and ceilings. One monk described it as “the strongest earthquake we’ve felt in years.”
“Seismic activity has been ongoing for over a year, but this was the most disturbing so far. The tremors haven’t stopped—we’re all on high alert,” another resident monk added.
