Unusual seismic activity rocks Santorini, with tremors expected to continue: expert

Santorini Island, a popular tourist destination in Greece, has been experiencing unusual seismic activity in recent days, with experts warning that the region may experience continued seismic activity for an extended period.

Between 00:00 and 12:00 local time on Saturday, 11 earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.0 or higher were recorded near the island, with the strongest tremor reaching a magnitude of 4.9, according to data by Institute of Geodynamics of the Athens National Observatory.

This follows a series of earthquakes that began earlier in the week.

Dimitrios Papanikolaou, an Emeritus Professor of Geology and Geoenvironment at the University of Athens, who has held various positions including President of the Geological Society of Greece and Chair of the European Center for Earthquake Prediction and Prevention, explained in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) that the earthquakes are caused by a submerged fault, rather than by volcanic activity from the nearby underwater Kolumbo volcano.

Papanikolaou elaborated that Santorini Island, located within the caldera of an ancient volcano, is situated in a seismically active area with several fault lines and the presence of the Kolumbo submarine volcano. As a result, the region has long been prone to earthquakes.

After the earthquake on Wednesday, which was the largest recorded at magnitude 5.2, seismic activity in the area has remained intense, with no clear primary tremor or aftershocks, making the situation particularly rare.

"What's happening is a rather unique case of geo-dynamic activity, not usual as we know it from all the history last century and this present century. At this moment we think that this activity of medium-size activity of earthquakes will continue for several weeks. And sometime, we cannot say exactly when, probably in the next couple of months, this will stop, will cease," he said.

Professor Papanikolaou urged both locals and tourists to remain calm, emphasizing that the island's infrastructure is well-equipped to handle seismic activity.

He reassured the public that even a magnitude six earthquake would not likely lead to widespread building collapses. However, he cautioned that secondary disasters, such as landslides or tsunamis, could pose risks and should be monitored closely.

Unusual seismic activity rocks Santorini, with tremors expected to continue: expert

Unusual seismic activity rocks Santorini, with tremors expected to continue: expert

Unusual seismic activity rocks Santorini, with tremors expected to continue: expert

Unusual seismic activity rocks Santorini, with tremors expected to continue: expert

Unusual seismic activity rocks Santorini, with tremors expected to continue: expert

China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) reviewed a record number of new drug registration applications in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent, with antineoplastic drugs accounting for the largest share, according to the administration.

In 2024, the NMPA evaluated a total of 18,259 drug registration applications, a figure that reflects the vitality of China's innovation in drug research and development.

"The record number of reviewed drug applications is a clear sign of China's rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry. The approval of high-quality new drugs not only gives Chinese patients more and better treatment options, but also shows China's increasing role in the global pharmaceutical market, offering more Chinese solutions to patients around the world," said Yuan Lijia, a staff member at the Center for Drug Evaluation under the NMPA.

Notably, in 2024, applications for clinical trial and market approval of new anti-tumor drugs ranked first among all chemical drugs and biologics, accounting for even half of the total.

"In 2024, anti-tumor drugs made up the largest share of approved clinical trial applications, with over 41 percent being chemical drugs and more than 55 percent being biologics. Throughout the year, anti-tumor drugs also led in the number of innovative drugs approved, with both chemical drugs and biologics surpassing 36 percent," said Geng Ying, an official with the center.

In 2024, China approved the market entry of 48 innovative drugs and 65 innovative medical devices. Its number of drugs in development ranked second globally, and several domestically developed drugs gained approval for global markets.

China's new drug registration applications hit record high in 2024