In brief
Amid continuous seismic activity, over 80% of Santorini's residents evacuate as experts assess the situation.
February has brought relentless earthquakes to Santorini, a popular Greek island that usually buzzes with tourists during this slow season. But this year, the island has turned eerily quiet, with more than 13,000 of its 15,500 residents fleeing due to the ongoing tremors, some occurring just minutes apart.Since January 25, Santorini, located about 150 miles southeast of Athens, and nearby islands have experienced thousands of small earthquakes, peaking with a magnitude-5.2 shake earlier this week. A magnitude-5 quake even reverberated in Athens, showcasing the widespread impact of this seismic unrest. According to Vassilis Karastathis, the director of the Institute of Geodynamics, the island recorded 160 tremors exceeding magnitude 4 in just the first nine days of February – nearly double the number experienced last year.As tremors continue, the future remains uncertain for Santorini. Experts cited the difficulty in making accurate predictions about potential future quakes. Mr. Karastathis noted, “There are indicators of stabilization, but we need a significant drop in tremor frequency to assure safety.” He warned that shaking might persist for weeks with larger quakes still possible.In response to the ongoing danger, local authorities have enacted emergency measures. Schools have suspended operations, and large indoor gatherings have been prohibited. Additional emergency personnel have been dispatched to the region, with landing crafts prepared for possible evacuations. Concerns over landslides have resulted in specific areas being cordoned off, and precautions such as sandbags have been deployed near coastal homes. To address the psychological impact on the residents, Red Cross psychologists have been offering support, while community leaders engage in prayer sessions hoping for relief.
