Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged for calm following a series of seismic activities on the tourist island of Santorini, which have led to mass evacuations.
Addressing the situation from Brussels, Mr. Mitsotakis confirmed that authorities were observing a “very intense” geological event in recent days, stating, “I want to ask our islanders especially to remain calm.”
Famous for its breathtaking cliffside vistas and a dormant volcano, Santorini along with its neighboring Aegean Sea islands has experienced hundreds of tremors since last week, the strongest being of magnitude 4.9.
Schools have remained closed, and extra flights were arranged to assist individuals leaving the island.
The tremors have been detected between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos in the Aegean Sea since Friday, leading authorities to shut down schools in Santorini and nearby islands such as Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi.
Quakes, some registering above magnitude 4, shook Santorini every few minutes today, prompting advisories for residents to avoid indoor spaces and small ports. Disaster response teams have been deployed on-site as a precautionary measure.
Experts indicate that the seismic activity on the island, which has several populated areas situated on steep cliffs, is likely to persist for weeks.
“We anticipate that this (the activity) will continue for several days and may result in a prolonged seismic sequence,” said Efthymios Lekkas, a professor of tectonic geology and disaster management, who is part of a team evaluating the situation on the ground, during a Greek television broadcast.
Local officials mentioned that long-term residents were not overly concerned as they are accustomed to earthquakes; however, some temporary workers on the island are choosing to leave.
Aegean Airlines announced it would operate three extra flights to and from Santorini today and tomorrow to assist in the travel of residents and visitors at the request of Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry.
Greece is situated on several fault lines and frequently experiences earthquakes.
One of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, around 1600 BC, shaped Santorini into its current form. The most recent eruption in the region was recorded in 1950.
Experts clarified that mild volcanic activity observed near Santorini in recent days is not connected to the ongoing quakes.
