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Something strange is rumbling beneath one of the world’s most secluded spiritual sites. A flurry of unusual seismic activity, centered offshore near Mount Athos, home to ancient Orthodox monasteries, has scientists puzzled and on high alert.
The strongest quake in a bizarre 14-month sequence struck Saturday afternoon, registering magnitude 5.3. Experts say it could go higher, up to 5.7 on the Richter scale, though they can't pinpoint when or if that will happen.
“There are no rules in seismic sequences,” said Efthymis Lekkas, head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, during a Sunday interview on OPEN TV. “Each one is chaotic and unpredictable.”
Even more concerning: the fault causing the quakes is underwater and still unidentified. “We are unable to locate the fault line precisely,” Lekkas said, noting the tremors remain oddly clustered in a narrow zone, which helps contain the threat for now.
Adding to the mystery is the sequence's erratic timeline. Seismic activity flared up last summer, paused, resumed in February, and now is back stronger than ever.
The Mount Athos area, known for its centuries-old monastic communities and spiritual seclusion, poses unique risks. Officials have warned monks and pilgrims to steer clear of older structures and steep slopes, citing both quake damage and landslide danger.
Athanasios Ganas, a seismologist at the Geodynamic Institute, confirmed the unrest has persisted for over 10 months, with more than two dozen aftershocks following Saturday’s jolt. “Seven earthquakes over magnitude 4 have been recorded in this sequence,” he told Kathimerini.
A government scientific committee met urgently after the latest quake, concluding the seismic swarm is still confined to its original zone near Karyes. The group advised caution but found no signs of neighboring fault activation.
Still, the unpredictability of the sequence has scientists wary. “We hope this was the main quake,” said Lekkas. “But we simply can’t be sure.”
