Santorini, one of Greece’s most famous tourist destinations, has been shaken by hundreds of earthquakes since Sunday, prompting thousands of locals to flee the island and triggering emergency measures. More than 6,000 residents have already evacuated via ferries, with additional emergency flights departing for the mainland on Tuesday.
The seismic activity, which has seen over 300 tremors recorded near the island in the last 48 hours, has raised concerns of a potential larger earthquake. While no significant damage has been reported so far, authorities are taking precautions due to the ongoing tremors, some of which have reached magnitudes as high as 4.7. Experts warn that the tremors could continue for weeks, intensifying fears among residents and officials.
Santorini, a small island with a population of around 15,500, typically thrives on tourism, especially during the summer months. However, as February is off-peak, most of those leaving the island are locals. The Greek government has closed schools for the entire week and advised against large indoor gatherings, while emergency services have stepped up their efforts, placing certain areas under alert due to the risk of landslides.
In response to the crisis, Aegean Airlines has added emergency flights to its schedule, helping evacuate around 2,500 passengers who are flying from Santorini to Athens. Hundreds more queued early Tuesday morning at the port to board ferries heading to the mainland, with the island’s atmosphere feeling increasingly deserted.
Among the evacuees is Kostas Sakavaras, a long-time Santorini resident and tour guide, who left the island with his family for safety. “We decided it’s a better choice to come to the mainland as a precaution,” he shared. While he emphasized that there had been no significant damage, the frightening sound of the quakes has left many, including Sakavaras, feeling unsettled.
Authorities have also advised residents to drain their swimming pools and have warned people to stay away from specific areas at risk of landslides. The South Aegean Regional Fire Department has been placed on high alert, with emergency teams stationed across the island.
Santorini sits along the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, but experts have clarified that the recent seismic activity is related to tectonic plate movements rather than volcanic eruptions, as the last major eruption occurred in the 1950s.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for calm, stating that Greece is closely monitoring the situation and implementing measures to protect residents and visitors alike.
