Mysterious ground cracks alarm residents in touristic Greek village

A series of unexplained ground cracks have begun forming in the tourist-populated Greek village of Voutes in Heraklion, Crete. Despite no recorded seismic activity, the sudden appearance of deep fissures has left residents deeply concerned about the safety of their homes and streets.

The cracks first emerged at the end of April near the village church and have since spread over a 150-metre (492-foot) stretch, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Two major ruptures have now split key roadways and damaged at least ten houses, heightening anxiety among locals. Greek authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and the community remains on edge.

Experts suspect ground subsidence may be to blame—a phenomenon where the earth beneath buildings sinks, threatening the structural integrity of affected properties.

Engineers from the local government have begun on-site evaluations, and the Municipality of Heraklion is preparing to declare a state of emergency to enable a coordinated emergency response.

On April 27, Professor Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP), visited the site with Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos.

Professor Lekkas described the situation as a “geological phenomenon in progress,” which has caused “structural failures in homes, public infrastructure, and utility networks”.

“The priority is the safety of our citizens,” said Mayor Kalokairinos. “We are conducting thorough inspections of public spaces like the kindergarten, church, and playground, as well as all affected homes. Our technical team, alongside Professor Lekkas’ specialists, will provide a clearer picture of the risks by the end of the day.”

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the geological event, with more updates expected in the coming days.

By Sabina Mammadli