There are no reports of casualties as a result of the landslide; there is only material damage to businesses and shops located in the area.
Those who witnessed the terrifying phenomenon in Santorini on Saturday afternoon, 04/27/24, were left speechless. According to cyclades24.gr, the landslide occurred in Thirasia shortly after 19:00, near the port of Corfu.
Efthimios Lekkas, professor of geology and disaster management and president of OASP, commented on the landslide, saying: “Santorini always has a high risk of landslides in the caldera. This means that we have a lot of landslides, and they occur due to relevant reasons: steep morphological gradients, the high seismicity that characterizes Santorini, and the state of the rocks (temporary erosion). Santorini consists of volcanic rocks, lava and pyroclastic rocks, the layers of which alternate. Pyroclastics are easily eroded, and lava is probably the hardest geological rock in existence. Therefore, when pyroclastic rock is under a volume of lava, it slowly erodes, causing it to lose its support. This is a classic mechanism that develops on Santorini throughout almost the entire caldera.”
The professor added: “In 2010, Santorini carried out major works to combat landslides in Athinios, the old port and Oia. But, as you understand, all this is in a dynamic process of development.”
Efthimios Lekkas also emphasized: “As I already told you, some attention to this issue is needed, some caution. I have already spoken with the mayor and governor of the South Aegean region, Mr. Hatzimarkos. We have discussed some actions that should be taken immediately. And of course, on the orders of the Minister Mr. Kikilia, I will go to Santorini so that we can make an assessment of what needs to be done first to reduce the risk as Easter and the start of the tourist season approaches.”
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