How frequent are earthquakes in Greece?

Greece has a high level of seismic activity. Based on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 28,000 quakes on average per year in Greece. Greece has had at least 17 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 5 to 10 years.

How many earthquakes occur every year in Greece?

On average, Greece has about 2,100 quakes of magnitude 3 or higher per year (Mag 4+: 253 quakes per year, Mag 5+: 13.2 quakes per year).

Volcanoes of Greece (13)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Greece

In historic times, at least 3 volcanoes have been active in Greece, including Santorini, Nisyros, and Methana volcanoes. A total of 16 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 258 BC.
The table below lists volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Greece during geologically recent times.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
1950 Jan 10 - Feb 2	Santorini Nea Kameni (Liatsikas dome)	2	Cyclades, Greece
1939 Aug 20 - 1941 Jul 2 ±1 d.	Santorini Nea Kameni (Triton, Ktenas, Fouque domes)	2	Cyclades, Greece
1928 Jan 23 - Mar 17	Santorini Nea Kameni (Naftilos dome)	2	Cyclades, Greece
1928 Jan 23 (eruption 1928 Jan 23 - Mar 17)	Santorini	2	Cyclades, Greece	48		Info
1928 Jan 23: Deaths more likely due to an earthquake than an eruption. CAVW lists no fatalities. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1925 Aug 11 - 1926 May	Santorini Nea Kameni (Dafni dome)	2	Cyclades, Greece
1888 Sep 25 ±4 d.	Nisyros Polyvotis Micros	2	Dodecanese Islands, Greece
1873 Jun - Sep 26	Nisyros Plegathon and Polyvotis	2	Dodecanese Islands, Greece
1871	Nisyros Plegathon and Polyvotis	2	Dodecanese Islands, Greece
1866 Jan 26 - 1870 Oct 15	Santorini Georgios, Afroessa and Reka domes	2	Cyclades, Greece
1866 Feb 20 (eruption 1866 Jan 26 - 1870 Oct 15)	Santorini	2	Cyclades, Greece	1		Info
1866 Feb 20: The captain of a ship loading materials at a dock on Micra Kameni island was killed by an ejected block, and others were injured. (reference #9675) Source: Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database
1707 May 23 - 1711 Sep 14	Santorini Nea Kameni	3	Cyclades, Greece
1707 May (eruption 1707 May 23 - 1711 Sep 14)	Santorini	3	Cyclades, Greece			Info
1707 May: Cited references #2130 Soloviev, Sergey L., Olga N. Solovieva, Chan N. Go, Khen S. Kim, and Nikolay A. Shchetnikov (2000): Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea 2000 B.C.-2000 A.D., Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, Volume 13, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 237 p. #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1650 AD Sep 27 - Dec 6	Santorini Colombo Bank (6.5 km NE of Thera)	4?	Cyclades, Greece
1650 AD Sep 26 (eruption 1650 AD Sep 27 - Dec 6)	Santorini Kolumbo volcano 6.5 km NE of Santorini	4	Cyclades, Greece	120	light	Info
1650 AD Sep 26: Some died of opthalmias caused by sulfurous vapor; others (approx. 50) were suffocated by vapors on Sept 30. The crew of a ship passing too near the volcano was suffocated on Oct 2. Others (approx. 20 laborers) were killed by a shower of black dust on Nov 4. Fytikas attributes 50 deaths to a tsunami, and does not mention other fatalities. [Reference #1633 - Fytikas lists 50 deaths due to gases from the eruption?] (reference #9675) On 29/9/1650 a tsunami caused serious damage to Thera's coasts and to other islands, within a radius of 150 km. The SO₂, which was produced in large quantities from Kolombos centre, proved to be a serious danger when the volcanic plume was directed by the wind towards Thera. More than 50 people lost their lives and more than 1O00 animals were killed... Gases from the eruption of 1650 caused the death of 50 people and more than 1O00 animals on Thera. (reference #1633) At least seventy people staying offshore or along the north-eastern coast of Santorini died from asphyxiation. Men approaching the eruption site by boat on October 2 were found burnt, but there is no clear evidence of pyroclastic surges flowing over water to reach the coast of Santorini, as occurred during the 1883 eruption of Krakatau (Carey et al.,1996; Paris et al., 2014b). (reference #12780) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1633 Fytikas M, Kolios N, Vougioukalakis G (1990): Post-Minoan volcanic activity of the Santorini volcano: volcanic hazard and risk, forecasting possibilities. In: Hardy D (ed) Thera and the Aegean World III, London: Thera Foundation, 2: 183-198 #1686 Latter, J.H. (1981): Tsunamis of volcanic origin; summary of causes with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883, Bulletin Volcanologique, Vol. 44, p. 467-490. #12780 Ulvrova, M., Paris, R., Nomikou, P., Kelfoun, K., Leibrandt, S., Tappin, D.R. and McCoy, F.W. (2016): Source of the tsunami generated by the 1650 AD eruption of Kolumbo submarine volcano (Aegean Sea, Greece). Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 321, 125-139. DOI:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.04.03 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1570 AD - 1573	Santorini Mikri Kameni	3	Cyclades, Greece
1422 AD	Nisyros	2	Dodecanese Islands, Greece
726 AD Jul 15 ±45 d.	Santorini NE side of Thia Island	4?	Cyclades, Greece
46 AD Dec 31 - 47 Feb 1 ±30 d.	Santorini Thia Island	3	Cyclades, Greece
197 BC	Santorini Hiera Island	3	Cyclades, Greece
258 ±18 y. BC	Methana Kameno Vouno	3	Saronic Gulf, Greece

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Greece FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Greece?

The last volcanic eruption in Greece was from Santorini volcano in 1950.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Greece?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 258 BC from Methana volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Greece erupt?

Since 258 BC, Greece has seen at least 16 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 143 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Greece?

Greece is volcanically occasionally active: Since 1900, at least 1 volcanoes in Greece have been active.Since 1900, Greece has had 4 volcanic eruptions from 1 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 7 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Greece has been in eruption in one in 18 years on average. The last volcano to erupt in Greece was Santorini volcano, which erupted in 1950, 75 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Greece?

The largest eruption in Greece in historic times was from Santorini volcano. It occurred in 1650 AD. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest earthquakes: Greece

In the past 7 days, Greece was shaken by 4 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or above, 30 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 478 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 1,331 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel.

A magnitude 4.5 quake was felt in 31 km N of Chalkida, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece .

Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake 31 km N of Chalkida, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece widely felt -

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
May 19, 03:58 pm (Istanbul)	3.8 8.8 km	104 km (65 mi) N of Akyarlar	24 km west of Aydin, Aydin, Turkey I FELT IT - 7 reports	Info
May 19, 11:14 am (Athens)	4.1 158 km	152 km (94 mi) SW of Sousaki	Southern Greece I FELT IT - 3 reports	Info
May 19, 03:23 am (Athens)	4.5 14 km	98 km (61 mi) NE of Sousaki	31 km north of Chalkida, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece I FELT IT - 217 reports	Info
Sunday, May 18, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 18, 09:56 am (Athens)	4.4 12 km	97 km (60 mi) N of Sousaki	32 km north of Chalkida, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece I FELT IT - 54 reports	Info
Saturday, May 17, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 18, 02:52 am (Athens)	4.2 10 km	104 km (65 mi) NE of Sousaki	Aegean Sea, 37 km north of Chalkida, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece I FELT IT - 35 reports	Info
Friday, May 16, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 16, 03:40 pm (Athens)	3.9 90 km	130 km (81 mi) S of Nisyros	16 km SE From Karpathos I FELT IT	Info

See Recent Quakes

Significant Earthquakes in Greece since 1900

The deadliest earthquake in Greece since 1900 was the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in

Greece, Ionian Islands on Aug, 12, 1953. It resulted in 476 fatalities and 2,412 injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects.
53,000 houses and other buildings were destroyed and an unknown number damaged.

Date	Mag	Region	Deaths	Damage
2020 Oct 30	7.0	Samos; Turkey Izmir	118	very heavy	Info
1999 Sep 7	6.0	Athens	143	catastrophic	Info
1995 Jun 15	6.5	Aiyion, Eratini	26	very heavy	Info
1986 Sep 13	5.8	Kalami, Lakonia, Zakinthos	20	moderate	Info
1981 Feb 24	6.7	Athens-eastern Gulf of Corinth	22	very heavy	Info
1978 Jun 20	6.4	Thessaloniki	50	very heavy	Info
1968 Feb 19	7.2	Aegean Sea St Eustratios	20	unknown	Info
1965 Apr 5	6.2	Southern	32	heavy	Info
1965 Mar 9	6.3	Alonisos, Skopelos	38	moderate	Info
1956 Nov 2	5.7	Volos-agria (Magnesia)	50-100 (*)	unknown	Info
1956 Jul 9	7.7	Dodecanese	56	heavy	Info
1954 Apr 30	7.0	Sophades (Karditsa)	31	moderate	Info
1954 Apr 20	7.0	Greece	25	unknown	Info
1953 Aug 12	7.2	Lixouri-argostoli (Kephallenia)	476	very heavy	Info
1953 Jun 18	?	Turkey: Edirne	37	moderate	Info
1935 Feb 25	6.7	Neapolis-anognia (Crete)	50-100 (*)	unknown	Info
1933 Apr 23	6.4	Dodecanese Islands	181	heavy	Info
1932 Sep 26	6.9	Hierissos-strantonion (Chalkidiki)	161	very heavy	Info
1931 Jan 4	5.3	Corinth-isthmia (Corinthia)	50-100 (*)	unknown	Info
1930 Feb 14	6.7	Aitania-vathia (Crete)	50-100 (*)	unknown	Info
1928 Apr 22	6.0	Corinth (Corinthia)	20	very heavy	Info
1926 Jun 26	7.0	Rhodes Island; Lower Egypt	50-100 (*)	heavy	Info
1914 Nov 27	6.3	Leukas Island	14	heavy	Info
1909 Jul 15	5.7	Chavari (Elis)	1-50 (*)	unknown	Info
1905 Nov 8	7.2	Aegean Sea	11	moderate	Info

(*) Estimated numbers

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

All Quakes in History

Map

Oldest quakes (until 1960) are shown in yellow, most recent (from 2000) in red.

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Significant Earthquakes in Greece FAQ

+Which was the deadliest earthquake in Greece since 1900?

The deadliest earthquake in Greece since 1900 was the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Greece, Ionian Islands on Aug, 12, 1953. It resulted in 476 fatalities and 2,412 injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects.

+Which was the earthquake that caused most damage in Greece since 1900?

The earthquake that caused most damage was the magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Greece, Attica on Sep, 7, 1999. It caused 143 fatalities and estimated $4.2 billion US Dollars (today's equivalent) in total economic damage.

+How many people were killed by earthquakes in Greece since 1900?

Since 1900, at least 54 earthquakes claimed an estimated total of 2,093 fatalities in Greece.

+How much damage did earthquakes cause in Greece since 1900?

There were 88 damaging or deadly quakes during this period that caused economic losses of approx. $12.6 billion US Dollars combined.

Tours in Greece

Nisyros Island (Greece)

Almonds, Olives and Volcanoes

8-day geo and walking tour on the volcanic islands of Nisyros & Kos, Greece

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7 nights / 8 days - Moderate
Price 1690 € $£¥

13-20 Sep 2025

Milos + Kimolos Islands (Greece)

The Island of Venus - Milos

8-day walking tours on Milos+Kimolos to discover its fascinating geology and history

more info

8 days / 7 nights - Easy to Moderate
Price 2370 € $£¥

5-12 May 2026

Santorini Island (Greece)

Fascination Volcano

7-day geo and walking tour on Santorini, Greece

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7 days / 6 nights - Moderate
Price 1890 € $£¥

4-10 May 2026

Milos Island (Greece)

Geo Wonderland - Island of Milos

private geo tours to discover Milos' fascinating geology and history

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3-4 days (customizeable) - Easy to Moderate
Price on request

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Santorini Island (Greece)

Santorini Geology Tour

private tours to discover Santorini's geology with a volcanologist, 1-3 days

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1-3 days - Custom (variable)
Price from 750 EUR

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Saronic Gulf (Greece)

Land of Theseus

8-day geo and walking tour in the Saronic Gulf near Athens

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8 days / 7 nights - Moderate
Price 1590 € $£¥

23-30 Mar 2026

Saronic Gulf (Greece)

Treasures of the Saronic Gulf

private geo tour to the Methana volcanic peninsula and the Saronic Gulf, 2-3 days

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3 days / 2 nights - Easy to Moderate
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Kolumbo submarine volcano (Greece): earthquakes in the area decrease, unlikely related to volcanic activity

Earthquakes over time (past 30 days) near Kolumbo volcano

The earthquake swarm in the area half way between Santorini and Amorgos Island continues to decrease. Only occasionally, earthquakes have been reaching magnitudes higher than 3. Read all

Wed, 12 Feb 2025, 10:12

Santorini volcano (Greece): earthquake swarm continues, two more magnitude 5 events

Earthquakes in the Cyclades region over the past 24 hours as of 12 Feb 2025 morning

After a few comparably calmer days, the earthquake swarm has picked up again a bit although overall there are no significant changes. In the past 24 hours, the area between Santorini, Ios, Amorgos and Anafi islands has been shaken by 2 quakes above magnitude 5, and 29 quakes between magnitude 4 and 5, as well as hundreds of smaller quakes. Read all

Mon, 10 Feb 2025, 09:21