Over the past few days, nearly 200 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3 or higher have been recorded, according to Reuters. The famous Greek tourist island of Santorini and its surrounding areas have experienced more than 200 earthquakes, causing fear among both locals and tourists. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged people to remain calm, as reported by Al Jazeera.
According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), earthquakes have been occurring within minutes of each other, with the strongest quake recorded on Monday evening, measuring 5.1 in magnitude.
In a statement from Brussels, Prime Minister Mitsotakis said that authorities have been monitoring an intense geological phenomenon over the past few days. He urged island residents to remain calm.
Thousands of locals and tourists are leaving Santorini, as well as nearby islands Anafi, Ios, and Amorgos, via ferries and flights, fearing that the ongoing seismic activity might be a precursor to a larger earthquake. However, no significant damage or injuries have been reported so far.
Santorini’s Volcanic History
Santorini is located on top of a dormant volcano. However, experts have stated that these earthquakes are not linked to volcanic activity. According to a specialist committee, nearly 200 earthquakes above magnitude 3 have been recorded in recent days.
Renowned Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos has warned that the current seismic pattern could indicate a major event. He noted that the number and magnitude of the quakes have increased, and their epicenter has shifted northeast. Although these are tectonic earthquakes rather than volcanic, the risk level has risen.
Santorini attracts over 3 million tourists annually. The island’s iconic white villages perched on dramatic cliffs were shaped by a massive volcanic eruption in 1620 BC, one of the largest in human history. That eruption destroyed a significant part of the island and buried the region under volcanic ash. It is also believed to have contributed to the downfall of the ancient Minoan civilization.
While Santorini still has an active volcano, the last major eruption occurred in 1950.
According to Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece’s Volcanic Arc Scientific Monitoring Committee, Santorini’s volcano erupted approximately every 20,000 years in the past. Since the last major eruption happened 3,000 years ago, he believes that another large eruption is not expected anytime soon.
People Fleeing the Island
Due to the ongoing seismic activity, thousands of people are leaving Santorini by ferry and flight. To accommodate the demand, ferry operators and airlines have added extra services at the request of Greece’s Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.
Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived on the island for 17 years, told AFP that he has never experienced earthquakes of this magnitude before. He stated that tremors occurred every three to four hours the previous day, describing it as different from past events.
Sakavaras left the island on Sunday with his wife and two children. He plans to stay on the mainland until the end of the week and believes the tremors might intensify further before subsiding.
In response to the emergency, authorities have set up tents on a basketball court near the island’s main hospital. Schools on four islands have been closed, and push notifications have been sent to residents, warning them to stay away from landslide-prone areas and certain coastal zones.