Thousands Flee Santorini as Further Tremors Rock the Island
Posted on Feb 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Fears of an earthquake have forced residents to evacuate Santorini, Greece's most visited island, as the region continues to experience what experts have called a “barrage” of earthquakes.
Residents, visitors, and employees are rushing to depart the island on boats and aeroplanes as officials are on high alert due to growing fears of a natural calamity.
Affected Areas and Responses: A Closer Look
When ticket agencies reported that the additional flights were sold out “within seconds,” the national airline, Aegean Airlines, announced by midday Monday that it was increasing the number of flights from Athens to Santorini for the following two days.
Airlines closely monitor the situation and will act accordingly after discussions with the Ministry of Civil Protection. Also, ferry companies plan to increase services due to increased boat ticket demand.
Remarkably, over 200 undersea tremors occurred over the weekend, primarily in waters between Santorini and Amorgos, the easternmost Cyclades Island, causing people to sleep outside or in their cars.
A Mexican tourist on a two-day visit to Santorini cried all night due to fear and uncertainty, stating that the ground was unstable, and they were advised to stay calm, but the constant shaking made it difficult to remain calm.
Moreover, the strongest earthquake to date, with a Richter scale value of 4.8, was recorded at 2:17 PM local time on Monday. They also documented rockslides and landslides.
“All scenarios are open,” Dr. Gerassimos Papadopoulos, a well-known seismologist, stated in an online article. “The number of tremors has increased, magnitudes have risen, and epicentres have shifted to the northeast. The risk has escalated.”
Later in the day, when anticipation of a volcanic eruption intensified, he underlined that the tremors were “tectonic, not volcanic.”
Besides, Greece's civil protection ministry has ordered schools in Santorini and surrounding islands to remain closed until Friday, advising people to avoid derelict buildings and large crowds in enclosed spaces as a precautionary measure.
Emergency Alerts: Tsunami Preparedness
Warnings have been issued to avoid the shoreline and certain ports in case of a tsunami triggered by a seismic fault line. This fault line could cause an earthquake above six on the Richter scale, though the main earthquake has not yet occurred.
Additionally, emergency medical crews, special forces, rescue teams, and drone handlers arrived on the island, along with the army. In case of a tsunami, inhabitants are advised to head to elevated areas inland, where rescue workers have established a staging area, pitching tents in a basketball court near the island's main hospital.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed an intense geological phenomenon in Brussels, urging islanders to remain calm and follow the guidance of the civil protection ministry, urging them to remain vigilant.
Furthermore, Greece, located on multiple fault lines, is frequently impacted by earthquakes, with the crust around Santorini being a highly active seismic zone.
The 1956 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Amorgos and Santorini caused a devastating tsunami, resulting in 53 deaths, mass injuries, and unprecedented damage.
Over time, the European island of white chalk cottages has grown to be a popular tourist attraction, with an estimated 3.5 million people in the previous year.
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