Santorini, Greece – A constant barrage of earthquakes has rocked the island of Santorini for four days, prompting school closures and the evacuation of residents and tourists.
Dozens of tremors, some exceeding magnitude 4, have rattled the island since Friday, sending people fleeing outdoors and into the streets. The quakes are centered between Santorini and Amorgos in the Aegean Sea.
Authorities have closed schools on Santorini and the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi until the end of the week. Disaster response units are on the ground as a precaution, particularly given that some of Santorini’s most populated areas are situated on cliffs.
While long-time residents are accustomed to seismic activity, the persistent nature of this swarm has caused widespread anxiety. Many visitors and temporary residents are choosing to leave the island.
“The earthquakes are non-stop, every five minutes,” said Tzanis Lignos, 35, who secured ferry tickets for his family. “It’s constant. The whole island is traumatized. We couldn’t sleep. There was so much noise. We kept running outside. We can’t stay here any longer.”
Ferries leaving the island were packed on Monday with families, including those with young children and babies. “We’ve been patient for three days, but today was the worst,” said 72-year-old Zoi Lignou. “We decided to leave, for as long as it takes.”
Aegean Airlines, responding to a request from the Greek Civil Protection Ministry, has added three flights to and from Santorini on Monday and Tuesday to accommodate those wishing to leave.
Experts predict the seismic activity will persist for weeks, possibly even forming a lengthy sequence. Efthymios Lekkas, a professor of tectonic geology and disaster management, told Greek television that the tremors are expected to continue for several more days.
While mild volcanic activity has also been observed near Santorini, experts say it’s unrelated to the earthquakes. The island’s current shape was formed by a massive volcanic eruption around 1600 BC. The last eruption in the area occurred in 1950. Greece, located on multiple fault lines, experiences frequent earthquakes.