Emergency Declared on 2nd Greek Island as String of Quakes Persists

Residents and visitors of Santorini are forming queues with their cars towards the port of Athinios, as they leave the island due to the increased seismic activity of the last few days, Santorini island, Greece, 03 February 2025.  EPA/CHRISTOS YANTSIS
Residents and visitors of Santorini are forming queues with their cars towards the port of Athinios, as they leave the island due to the increased seismic activity of the last few days, Santorini island, Greece, 03 February 2025. EPA/CHRISTOS YANTSIS
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Emergency Declared on 2nd Greek Island as String of Quakes Persists

Residents and visitors of Santorini are forming queues with their cars towards the port of Athinios, as they leave the island due to the increased seismic activity of the last few days, Santorini island, Greece, 03 February 2025.  EPA/CHRISTOS YANTSIS
Residents and visitors of Santorini are forming queues with their cars towards the port of Athinios, as they leave the island due to the increased seismic activity of the last few days, Santorini island, Greece, 03 February 2025. EPA/CHRISTOS YANTSIS

Authorities declared a state of emergency on a second Greek island Wednesday as a series of earthquakes continued to rattle the south-eastern Aegean Sea region.
The emergency measure announced on the island of Amorgos follows a similar decision for nearby Santorini on Feb. 7 after thousands of unusual tremors were registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi – all popular tourist destinations, The Associated Press reported.
Scientists had expressed hope the seismic swarm could be easing up, but a string of earthquakes around magnitude 5 has renewed concern. Seismologists have also noted that the epicenter of the earthquakes is steadily drifting northward in the direction of Amorgos.
The emergency declaration will facilitate rapid deployment of resources and emergency services. The region has already seen a significant mobilization of fire departments, police, coast guard, and armed forces mostly on Santorini where thousands of residents and seasonal workers have left the island.
Overall, about 12,000 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 1 have been registered since Jan. 26, the University of Athens’ crisis management committee said earlier.
Although Greece lies in a highly seismically active part of the world and earthquakes are frequent, it is very rare for any part of the country to experience such an intense barrage of earthquakes for such an extended period.



Saudi Falcons Club Raises Endangered Wakri Falcon Count to 14 Through Hadad Program

The club has implemented a comprehensive scientific strategy to enhance biodiversity - SPA
The club has implemented a comprehensive scientific strategy to enhance biodiversity - SPA
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Saudi Falcons Club Raises Endangered Wakri Falcon Count to 14 Through Hadad Program

The club has implemented a comprehensive scientific strategy to enhance biodiversity - SPA
The club has implemented a comprehensive scientific strategy to enhance biodiversity - SPA

The Saudi Falcons Club has achieved a major environmental milestone by raising the number of endangered Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) breeding pairs, known locally as Wakri, from two to 14 through its flagship conservation initiative, the Program to Return Falcons to their Original Habitat (Hadad).

Club spokesman Walid Al-Taweel stated that the Wakri falcon is one of the Kingdom’s rarest and most endangered native species.

He emphasized that the club has implemented a comprehensive scientific strategy to enhance biodiversity, restore ecological balance, and preserve the rich heritage of falconry, aligned with the environmental sustainability goals of Saudi Vision 2030, SPA reported.

Al-Taweel added that the club aims to become a national leader in conserving rare falcons by adopting advanced practices rooted in global standards. It also seeks to engage the local community in falcon rewilding efforts and in reviving their natural habitats, thereby supporting the natural breeding process within the species’ indigenous environments.

The Saudi Falcons Club continues to launch pioneering initiatives that preserve the cultural legacy of falconry, ensure its transmission to future generations, and raise public awareness about the importance of protecting and sustaining rare species as part of the broader goal of achieving environmental balance.