Lost Paradise

Santorini, also known as Thira and Thera, is one of the most beautiful Greek islands, situated in the southern Aegean Sea, 200 km southeast of the Greek mainland, and it belongs to the Cyclades group.

The island, which is essentially a caldera, owes its current appearance to one of the largest recorded volcanic eruptions in human history, known as the Minoan eruption, which occurred approximately 3600 years ago when the Minoan civilization was flourishing on Crete.

In the last few days, the island has been experiencing significant seismic activity, with some sources reporting over 200 earthquakes. The earthquakes are mostly between M3.0 and M4.9, with the strongest reported earthquake being M5.2. Preliminary analyses suggest that the earthquakes have a tectonic character rather than volcanic, meaning they are a result of tectonic plate movements in the region, not directly related to Santorini's volcanic activity. However, this cannot be ruled out entirely!

While we look at these beautiful images of Santorini, we should keep in mind that this paradise could soon turn into hell. This applies to all parts of our planet!

Greek authorities have declared a state of emergency on the island! It is estimated that over 11,000 people have left the island due to fear of potentially stronger earthquakes.

As the safety of every individual is paramount, we should welcome the precautionary measures taken by Greek authorities but also point out that these events again indicate an increase in seismic and volcanic activity.

The impression is that we still do not pay enough attention to all the climatic and geodynamic changes we encounter daily. We do not understand the seriousness of the situation!

Unfortunately, there are far too many examples from the recent past. I tasked an AI, using two different software programs - I won't advertise them now - to extract the 10 most significant climate disasters in the world from January 1, 2023, to today, based on the number of deaths and material damage. Here is that list:

1️⃣ Earthquake in Turkey and Syria (February 2023)
Deaths: 59,259 (50,783 in Turkey, 8,476 in Syria)
Material damage: Over 100 billion dollars
Description: Two strong earthquakes (7.8 and 7.5) destroyed thousands of buildings, leaving millions homeless.

2️⃣ Floods in Libya – city of Derna (September 2023)
Deaths: 11,300+
Material damage: Several billion dollars
Description: Hurricane Daniel caused extreme rains that breached dams, flooding the entire city of Derna.

3️⃣ Floods in Pakistan (2023)
Deaths: 1,739
Material damage: Over 30 billion dollars
Description: Seasonal monsoon rains caused catastrophic floods that destroyed infrastructure and agriculture.

4️⃣ Cyclone Freddy – Africa (February–March 2023)
Deaths: 1,434
Material damage: Several billion dollars
Description: One of the longest-lasting and deadliest cyclones in history, it hit Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi.

5️⃣ Earthquake in Morocco (September 2023)
Deaths: 2,960
Material damage: 11 billion dollars
Description: A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 hit the mountainous region southwest of Marrakesh.

6️⃣ Fire in Los Angeles (2025)
Deaths: 29+
Material damage: 135-275 billion dollars
Description: Devastating wildfires swept through much of California, destroying homes and infrastructure.

7️⃣ Flood in Valencia, Spain (October 2024)
Deaths: 205
Material damage: Several billion dollars
Description: Extreme rainfall caused catastrophic floods in the Valencia region.

8️⃣ Hurricane Otis – Mexico (2023)
Deaths: Unspecified but significant
Material damage: Billions of dollars
Description: A devastating hurricane ravaged Acapulco, causing severe flooding and infrastructure damage.

9️⃣ Typhoon Doksuri – China and the Philippines (July 2023)
Deaths: 100+
Material damage: Over 10 billion dollars
Description: A strong typhoon caused floods and landslides in Southeast Asia.

🔟 Heatwaves and fires in Europe (2023)
Deaths: 61,000+
Material damage: Hard to estimate (droughts, fires, agriculture)
Description: Record temperatures hit Southern Europe, causing wildfires, water shortages, and significant economic losses.

Don't you think we should start thinking about preventive measures in construction? Evacuation measures, rescue measures in case of floods, flash floods, and earthquakes, measures for aid and supply of the population, and other preparations at the community, state, and broader levels? Also, individual preparations in the form of an always-ready backpack with essentials for earthquakes, fires, or floods.