May 24, 2025 4:49 am
Full News

200 Earthquakes in Santorini: Tourists and Locals in Panic

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.

Related News
ISI Chief Lt Gen Asim Malik’s Visit to Bangladesh Raises Security Concerns for India
Philippine Vice President’s Alleged Assassination Threat Against President Sparks Security Alert
Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis: Rescue Operation Faces Challenges
Pakistan Did ‘Dirty Work’ for West by Supporting Terrorists – Defense Minister Khawaja Asif
Hugh Jackman’s Forgotten Fantasy Flick Becomes Netflix Hit
Bangladesh Army Leadership Steps Up Amid Talks of Arakan Army Support and Humanitarian Corridor
Related Posts
Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Nuclear Power and Speed Up Approvals
U.S. Launches Record Airstrike From Carrier on Somalia, Killing 14 Militants
Bangladesh All-Rounder Soumya Sarkar Ruled Out of Pakistan T20I Series
Trump and Rubio Restructure National Security Council, Targeting “Deep State”
Netanyahu Accuses France, UK, and Canada of Encouraging Hamas
Bangladesh’s Interim Leader Threatens to Resign Amid Political Pressure
More News

India, China Agree to Resume Flights After 5 Years

India and China have agreed to resume direct flights after nearly five years of deadly military clashes between the two neighbours on the disputed Himalayan border. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Monday that the two countries agreed to resume direct air services during a meeting between Chinese Foreign Secretary […]

Continuous Rocket Attacks from Gaza to Israel by Hamas

The Israeli military has claimed that approximately 10 rockets were launched from Gaza and struck Israeli territory. According to the occupying forces, most of the rockets were successfully intercepted. (Source: Al Jazeera) Citing a report from Israeli media outlet Haaretz, Al Jazeera stated that rocket fragments fell in Ashkelon and Gan Yavne, damaging several vehicles […]

Al Jazeera 360 Responds to Swedish Criticism of Documentary

Documentary Faces Backlash from Swedish Authorities Al Jazeera 360 has pushed back against Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s claims that its documentary Behind Closed Doors is “dangerous.” The investigative three-part series delves into cases of families from diverse backgrounds in northern Europe, including Sweden, whose children were forcibly removed by social authorities. Kristersson compared the […]

A TV channel MD arrest in BD

Bangladesh Police arrested Arif Hasan, the Managing Director of Desh TV, a private Bangladeshi satellite television channel, in connection with a murder case. He was taken into custody on November 16 at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.The Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Talebur Rahman, confirmed the arrest. According to […]

Global human trafficking victims list rose 25%: UN report.

There was a 25 per cent increase in the number of human trafficking victims found globally in 2022 compared to 2019 pre-pandemic figures, according to a survey report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC). The ‘Global Report on Trafficking in Person 2024’ on Wednesday revealed that child trafficking, trafficking for forced labour […]

Ex-US Fighter Pilot Accused of Training Chinese Military to be Extradited to the US

A former US Marine accused of training Chinese military pilots is set to be extradited to the United States to face charges, following confirmation from Australia’s Attorney General on Monday. This decision is a setback for those advocating for his release. Daniel Duggan, a naturalized Australian citizen, was arrested in New South Wales in 2022 […]

Josh O’Connor Joins Cast of Spielberg’s New Film

As previously announced, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson (“Bad Sisters,” “Flora and Son”) will complete the cast for the yet-to-be-titled film. Universal Pictures will release the movie on May 15, 2026. Spielberg is directing from a script by David Koepp, whose previous collaborations with the filmmaker include Jurassic Park, War of […]

Vin Diesel Teases ‘Fast X: Part 2’ Release Date and Dwayne Johnson’s Return

Being part of a huge $7.3 billion movie series like Fast & Furious comes with a lot of challenges. Just ask Vin Diesel about the next movie, Fast X: Part 2. Vin Diesel posted on social media recently, giving hints about the release date, the return of Dwayne Johnson, and the plan for a two-part […]

Justin and Hailey Bieber Reportedly Heading for Divorce, $300M Settlement at Stake

A shocking new photo of Justin Bieber has surfaced, showing the pop star looking alarmingly thin, with sunken cheeks and hollow eyes—signs of both physical and mental distress. Speculation is mounting about the reasons behind Bieber’s deteriorating condition. Reports suggest two major factors: First, Bieber fears being linked to his former mentor Sean “Diddy” Combs’ […]

Tensions Escalate Between the US and Iran Over Nuclear Talks

Hours after US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with “unprecedented bombing” in response to stalled nuclear negotiations, Iran has reportedly readied missiles capable of targeting US-linked positions worldwide. According to the Tehran Times, these missiles are strategically stored in underground facilities throughout the country, designed to endure potential airstrikes. On Sunday, Trump warned in an […]