Earthquake Hits Mount Athos, Scientists Express Concerns

Karyes, Greece — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Mount Athos early Monday morning, September 22, 2025, alarming residents and drawing attention from the scientific community.

The earthquake, which had a shallow depth of 8 kilometers and an epicenter located about 9 kilometers west of Karyes, the administrative center of Mount Athos, occurred at 4:20 AM local time. Reports indicate the quake was felt widely in surrounding areas, but there have been no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.

According to Efthymios Lekkas, president of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, this earthquake is part of a series of seismic activities that have been ongoing since early 2024. He noted that over 1,000 tremors have been recorded in the region, with ten exceeding a magnitude of 4.0. The strongest quake in recent months measured 5.2, occurring three months prior.

“It does not worry us, but from a scientific perspective, we are concerned,” Lekkas explained on public broadcaster ERT. He highlighted that the fault responsible for these earthquakes, which had remained dormant before 2024, is still showing activity, though he predicts it will not exceed a 5.2 magnitude.

While the tremors are unsettling, Lekkas emphasized the challenge of predicting earthquakes, stating, “We cannot predict the intentions of nature. All we know is based on seismic recordings, which do not always reflect the exact processes taking place underground.”

Despite these scientific uncertainties, Lekkas remains cautiously optimistic. “I believe the activity will continue with smaller magnitudes, but we will not see quakes above 5 that would cause serious concern. We are monitoring the situation and expect everything to be fine.”

Mount Athos, known for its historic monasteries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies in a seismically active area, where moderate earthquakes are not uncommon.