Santorini, a world-renowned tourist destination, is under a state of emergency after a powerful earthquake struck the island on Wednesday evening.
The 5.2-magnitude quake is the strongest in a series of tremors that began last week and have prompted the evacuation of thousands of tourists and residents, according to HotNews.
The Greek Ministry of Civil Protection announced that the emergency status will remain in place until March 3 to allow for rapid response to ongoing seismic threats.
Around 11,000 people have reportedly left the island, which is home to approximately 20,000 permanent residents and attracts over 3.4 million visitors annually.
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Disruptions and Safety Measures
Evacuations faced logistical challenges on Wednesday as strong winds temporarily halted ferry services, though normal operations resumed on Thursday.
Additional flights were organized to assist those leaving for the mainland.
Neighboring islands, including Amorgos and Ios, have also experienced tremors.
While no major damage has been reported, Greek authorities are taking precautions against the possibility of a larger earthquake.
"The entire state apparatus has been mobilized, and I urge our citizens to cooperate with the authorities," said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a high-level emergency meeting.
Seismic Activity Raises Concerns
Santorini, located near the boundary between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, frequently experiences earthquakes, though such prolonged and intense activity is unusual.
Hundreds of smaller quakes with magnitudes around 3 have occurred in recent days, with Wednesday's event followed by at least five aftershocks of magnitude 4 or higher.
The last major earthquake in Santorini occurred in 1956, registering 7.5 on the Richter scale and resulting in over 50 fatalities and more than 100 injuries.
In response to the ongoing seismic activity, Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Santorini’s ports and to stay informed through official updates from Greek authorities.
