Planning a vacation isn’t just about booking a Mykonos villa and crossing off a week or two in your calendar to sip cocktails on a beach. It’s about doing your research and taking every detail into consideration, like whether there are any earthquakes on Mykonos and how frequently. Could it potentially ruin your vacation days in one of the luxury villas on Mykonos? Let’s find out.

Is Earthquake Activity Frequent in Greece?

When you think of Greece, the first association is probably the delicious Greek food, beautiful white buildings, and gorgeous views. You don’t really think about the danger of earthquakes or tsunamis. However, you might want to consider doing some research before your big trip. While there is no need to panic or cancel your travel plans, you should be aware of the fact that Greece is prone to seismic activity.

When it comes to the damage caused by earthquakes, the Hellenic Republic takes sixth place out of all the countries in the world and the first spot in Europe. The country has unique geographical characteristics that contribute to this phenomenon. Seismic activity in this region includes both weaker, smaller earthquakes, as well as stronger ones that seem to be more common and can cause a lot more damage.

The region that gets hit most often and has the biggest amount of damage caused by the quakes is along the west coast. That area includes many Greek islands, such as Crete and Corfu. However, the whole country is very prone to strong quakes, and the “Greek fault” stretching from Lefkada to Rhodes is a frequent earthquake zone. It exists for over five million years.

What Causes Earthquakes in Greece and How Strong Are They?

For starters, you should know what causes each quake to occur in this beautiful sunny country. The cause lies in the Eastern Mediterranean area, in the movements of the tectonic plates that are coming into contact and pushing each other, causing quakes that can be as powerful as 7.5 on the Richter scale and can cause great damage.

While powerful ones are not unheard of, quakes in Greece are usually milder, with a magnitude around 2 or 3 on the Richter scale. Those earthquakes can go unnoticed by people and rarely lead to any damage or injuries. The most recent powerful quake was the one that happened in 2015 in Lefkada.

What Was the Strongest Quake to Ever Hit the Cyclades?

The strongest earthquake to hit Greece since 1900 was named Amorgos, and it happened in 1956, on July 9th. The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.8 on the Richter scale, and it was a devastating event. It took the lives of 53 people and injured more than 100 people, so you can imagine the kind of property damage this natural hazard caused – more than 500 Greek houses were completely ruined.

The epicenter was south of the island Amorgos, and the island Santorini got hit pretty badly as well, with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale, no more than 13 minutes after the Amorgos got hit because it was very near to the central hit. Soon after, a tsunami with a height of 30 meters came. The island of Santorini suffered the most, while The Island of the Winds got away almost scratch-free. It was a devastating event that took a lot of time to heal fully.

Are Greek Islands Today Safe for Traveling?

While no one can ever rule out the possibility that a strong quake will hit during your holiday in Greece, there is no need to cancel your travel plans because of a slight possibility something bad will happen. Millions of tourists visit this beautiful and safe country every year, so there is no need to worry, just relax and enjoy your dream vacation – it’s perfectly safe.

A woman holding her hat while looking at the Aegean Sea and Mykonos

Don’t let fear ruin your travel plans

Have There Been Earthquakes on Mykonos in the Past?

Mykonos is known for many things – fantastic food, the most beautiful beaches, the Aegean Sea, fun nightlife, stylish Mykonos villas for rental, and many more, but the danger of earthquakes is not one of them. While there have been natural hazards around The Island of the Winds, they are very unlikely to happen while you’re having dinner in Chora. That being said, there have been some accidents in the past.

When Was the Latest Quake That Hit Mykonos With a Magnitude Above 3?

The last earthquake to hit Mykonos was pretty recently, on August 29, 2021. It was strong, with a magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale, but it didn’t cause any severe damage or injuries. The next-door neighbor island in the Aegean Sea – Paros, had it worse. Still, that did not stop this party island. Tourists continue coming here, they rent Mykonos villas, have fun, and enjoy everything this small piece of paradise on earth has to offer.

A whitewashed street on Paros

In the latest quake, Paros suffered much more than Mykonos

Once You Take a Look at Some Quake Stats, You Can Relax and Book Your Mykonos Villa Rental

Greece is one of the most beautiful destinations for a summer vacation in the world, and it would be a shame for you not to go because of your fear of quakes. Greek islands are perfectly safe from natural hazards, so do some research, take a look at some quake stats, and then contact The Ace VIP and figure out which one of the many Mykonos luxury villas is the right fit for you.

You deserve all the comfort possible, so rent a car if you’d like to see every inch and all the hidden gems of the island. You can also hire a Mykonos concierge to help you out with any wishes you might have. And if you want to be on the safer side and spoil yourself, take a look at our Mykonos yacht rental offer. Although our private villas in Mykonos are perfectly safe, you will definitely enjoy spending a few days on the water.