May 3, 2025 8:51 pm
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
World Bank Projects Bangladesh’s Economic Growth to Slow to 3.3% in FY25
Damascus Airport Reopens to International Flights After Nearly 13 Years
Outgoing Georgian President Defies Departure as Successor Assumes Office
Over 7,000 Killed in Deadly Conflict in Congo
China Imposes Sanctions on US Lawmakers, Officials, and NGO Chiefs
Labour Party’s Goal for 1.5 Million Homes by 2029: UK Faces Workforce Shortage
Related Posts
Tesla’s European Sales Plummet in April, Deepening Crisis for Elon Musk
UN Workers Protest Layoffs in Geneva
India Takes New Action Against Pakistan
Dhaka Stock Market Loses Tk 17,000 Crore in April
Criminal Cases Against 266 Journalists Spark Concerns Over Press Freedom in Bangladesh
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Warns of Hostile Action Over India’s Indus Water Projects
More News

In a closely contested presidential race: Times/Siena polls

In a closely contested presidential race, recent Times/Siena polls highlight a dramatic battle between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in several key swing states. As Election Day approaches, Trump has made gains in Pennsylvania, narrowing Harris’s previous lead, while she has shown renewed strength in North Carolina and Georgia. The polls […]

Avengers: Doomsday – Russo Brothers Bring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom

Remember how Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was the big talk at San Diego Comic-Con 2022? Well, in 2024, Marvel hit the reset button, scrapping Kang’s storyline for something far bigger—and more surprising. Enter Avengers: Doomsday, a cinematic game-changer that brought back the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr., but with a twist: Downey is playing […]

French Finance Minister Stresses Budget Flexibility Amid Far-Right Pressure

French Finance Minister Antoine Armand stated on Saturday that the 2025 budget could still be improved but stopped short of offering significant concessions in the face of mounting pressure from the far-right National Rally (RN). The standoff threatens Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s fragile minority government as the RN demands further changes. France’s budget deficit has […]

Woman Arrested in Saif Ali Khan Attack Case

The attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has taken a new turn, with the arrest of a woman from Nadia, West Bengal. Police claim that the woman is connected to the main suspect, Shariful Islam Shehzad. According to Indian media reports, the woman helped Shariful, a Bangladeshi national, enter India illegally. As per a […]

President Trump Warns Davos Elite: Invest in America or Face Tariffs

In his address to the global elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning: invest in the United States or face tariffs. Speaking via video from the White House, Trump offered a carrot-and-stick approach to international business leaders, promising lower taxes for those who choose to manufacture in […]

India, US Diplomats Trying to Arrange Trump-Modi Meeting

Diplomats from the two countries are trying to arrange a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington in February. Two Indian sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. India is a strategic partner of the United States to counter China. New Delhi is keen to increase trade relations […]

NIA Raids Multiple Locations Across India in Bangladeshi-Linked Al-Qaeda Terror Funding Case

Deepanwita Martin The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted extensive raids on Monday at nine locations across India as part of an investigation into terror funding activities linked to Bangladeshi nationals connected to the terror group Al-Qaeda. The raids were carried out simultaneously in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and […]

India Acknowledges ‘Security Failure’ in Kashmir Attack

The Indian government has admitted to a “security failure” following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. According to a report published by Al Jazeera on Saturday (April 26), an all-party meeting was held in New Delhi on Thursday (April 24) to address the incident. […]

118 more journalists lost accreditation by Younus Govt

The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Advisor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has revoked the permanent and temporary press accreditation cards of 118 additional prominent journalists, including editors, reporters, and TV station chief executives. This order, signed by Md Nizamul Kabir, Chief Information Officer of the Press Information Department under the Ministry of Information […]

Munni Saha released ‘on condition, after hours of arrest

Bangladeshi Prominent Journalist Munni Saha has been released from the custody of the Detective Branch ( a branch of Police) , just hours after being detained the capital on Saturday night. She was handed over to her family on payment of a bond shortly after midnight (technically Sunday). Quoting Rezaul Karim Mallick, additional commissioner (DB) […]