The Tremors Won’t Stop… Thousands Continue to Flee Santorini, Greece

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The Greek island of Santorini is experiencing a mass exodus due to a series of seismic tremors shaking the region.

The first of these tremors was recorded over a week ago, with the latest reported on Thursday.

In response, Greek authorities have declared a state of emergency on the volcanic island for one month, temporarily closing schools.

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Seismologists estimate that the seismic activity could continue for several days or even weeks. They advise people to stay away from coastal areas due to the risk of landslides and to avoid gathering in enclosed spaces, according to Reuters.

Some hotels have begun emptying their swimming pools after being warned that the weight of the water could make buildings more vulnerable to damage.

The Athens Geodynamic Institute, Greece’s leading authority on earthquake analysis, recorded seven consecutive tremors exceeding a magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale on Thursday morning.

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This followed a 5.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday evening, the strongest recorded so far since the weekend.

Experts have not yet been able to determine when the seismic activity will end, but they emphasize that it is unprecedented, according to AFP.

“The intensity is decreasing, but it has not yet stabilized,” said Athanasios Ganas, director of research at the Institute, in an interview with the public broadcaster ERT. Meanwhile, the Institute’s deputy director, Vassilis Karastathis, stated: “We are halfway through.”

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On Thursday, the Institute reported more than 6,000 tremors in the region surrounding the islands of Santorini, Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios since January 26.

Meanwhile, over 11,000 residents and seasonal workers have left Santorini by sea and air since last weekend, with transport companies scheduling additional trips.

Experts note that the region has not experienced seismic activity of this magnitude since earthquake records began in 1964.

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Santorini sits atop a volcano that last erupted in 1950. However, a panel of experts stated on Monday that the current tremors “are not related to volcanic activity.” No injuries or damages have been reported.

In 2023, Santorini welcomed approximately 3.4 million visitors, including over one million cruise ship passengers.