197 BC Eruption of Santorini

Name: 197 BC Eruption of Santorini
Location: Santorini, Greece

197 BC · VEI 3

Santorini in Greece erupted in 197 BC with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It caused a tsunami.

Where it erupted

Santorini, Greece, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date: 197 BC
Volcano: Santorini, shield volcano
Country: Greece
Volcanic Explosivity Index: 3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Earthquake: Yes: the earthquake with it
Location: 36.404° N, 25.396° E

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this eruption.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

197 B.C. Area of Activity: Hiera Island. Eruptive Characteristics:

Central vent eruption,

Regional fissure eruption,

Submarine eruption,

New island formation,

Explosive eruption. (reference #1412)

Other significant eruptions of Santorini

Every eruption in 197 BC The 100s BC Santorini Earthquakes near Santorini

Sources

Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 5324.