Earthquake Shakes Mt. Athos, Causing Cracks in Monasteries
Ongoing tremors on Mt. Athos raise concern as monasteries sustain manageable but growing structural damage.
MT. ATHOS — A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Mt. Athos on March 25, prompting inspections across several historic monasteries as ongoing seismic activity continues to concern experts.
Engineers have completed an initial round of inspections, identifying new cracks and the expansion of existing damage at major monasteries, including Vatopaidi Monastery, Hilandar Monastery, and Zografou Monastery. Officials noted that while the cracks require prompt repair, no structural collapses have been reported.
According to specialists monitoring the situation, recent seismic acceleration levels in some areas exceeded design expectations, raising concerns despite the strong performance of reinforced historic structures. Restoration work carried out over recent decades is credited with preventing more serious damage.
Experts also warned that daily tremors continue to be recorded, indicating that the seismic phenomenon has not yet subsided, leaving authorities closely monitoring conditions at the monastic sites.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Mt. Athos was hit with a 4.0 earthquake.
