Greek authorities have issued warnings about increased seismic activity around the Aegean tourist island of Santorini, advising individuals to steer clear of four ports, drain pools, avoid indoor gatherings, and close schools on Monday.
Over 200 tremors have been reported since Friday in the region between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos, as announced by the civil protection ministry in a statement on Sunday. The ministry referenced experts responsible for evaluating earthquake risks and monitoring Greece's volcanic arc.
The experts, as per the ministry, have determined that the tremors are unrelated to volcanic activity and have suggested precautionary measures such as the closure of schools on February 3, which has been expanded to include the islands of Amorgos, Ios, and Anafi.
They have advised individuals in Santorini to avoid the small ports of Ammoudi, Armeni, Korfos, and the harbor of Fira, mainly utilized by cruise ships. Many of Santorini's ports are surrounded by sheer cliffs.
In Athens, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis led an emergency meeting on the matter, while authorities in Santorini made preparations for a potential evacuation.
Tents were erected in an outdoor stadium, police and the fire brigade were put on standby, and specialized disaster response units were ready.
Greece is situated on multiple fault lines and frequently experiences earthquakes.
Costas Papazachos, a geophysics and seismology professor who assessed the situation in Santorini, stated that the measures taken were precautionary and that the worst-case scenario would involve an earthquake measuring 6.0 or higher.
This does not necessarily mean that there will be a strong earthquake; it may be that the thermal energy dissipates and results in a smaller earthquake in Santorini... But we must take precautions, he informed the Greek website protothema.gr.
Santorini, renowned for its whitewashed buildings perched on steep cliffs and black-sand beaches, attracts approximately 3 million visitors annually.
The island was shaped by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history around 1600 BC, with the most recent eruption in the area occurring in 1950.