Following a surge in seismic activity prompting concerns about a potentially significant earthquake, schools on the Greek volcanic island of Santorini were closed Monday, and emergency services deployed.
Precautionary measures were also implemented on several nearby Aegean Sea islands after over 200 undersea earthquakes were detected in the region over the past 72 hours.
Addressing the situation from Brussels, where he was attending a European Union meeting, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated, “We face a considerable geological event. I urge our islanders to remain calm and follow Civil Protection instructions.”
Island residents received mobile phone alerts warning of potential landslides, while several earthquakes caused noticeable tremors. Authorities restricted access to certain coastal areas, including the old port, near cliff faces.
Following an emergency government meeting in Athens late Sunday, Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias stated, “These precautions are in place, and authorities maintain heightened vigilance. We urge citizens to strictly follow safety guidelines to minimize risks.”
While Greek experts assert that the earthquakes, many exceeding magnitude 4.5, are unrelated to Santorini’s volcano, they acknowledge the seismic pattern is concerning.
Government officials and scientists convened throughout the weekend and Monday to assess the situation. Schools on the neighboring islands of Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios were also closed.
The frequent earthquakes, continuing through Sunday night and into Monday, caused worry among residents and visitors.
Michalis Gerontakis, director of the Santorini Philharmonic Orchestra, shared, “I’ve never experienced such frequent tremors – an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes. Anxiety is widespread, even if some try to hide it to avoid panic.”
“Despite the quakes, we performed yesterday for a religious event,” Gerontakis added. “You can’t feel them while playing, but there were tremors during our church performance. Nature is unpredictable.”
Residents and visitors were advised to avoid large indoor gatherings and landslide-prone areas, while hotels were told to drain swimming pools to lessen potential structural strain.
Fire service rescue teams arrived on the island Sunday, establishing a staging area in a basketball court near the main hospital. “We arrived last night – a 26-member team and one rescue dog,” said fire brigadier Ioannis Billias, noting many residents, including families, spent the night in their vehicles.
Some residents and workers sought travel agents for plane or ferry tickets to leave the island.
“We’ve had earthquakes before, but nothing like this. It feels different,” said Nadia Benomar, a Moroccan tour guide who has lived on the island for 19 years. She purchased a ferry ticket to Naxos on Monday.
“I need a break until things settle down,” she explained.
Others chose to remain. Restaurant worker Yiannis Fragiadakis, who had been away, returned to Santorini Sunday despite the seismic activity.
“I wasn’t afraid. I know people are worried and leaving; the port was bustling, like summer,” Fragiadakis said. “I plan to stay, and hopefully, the restaurant will reopen for the holiday season in three weeks.”
Soo Jin Kim, a South Korean tourist from Seoul, arrived Sunday for a family vacation.
“We had dinner at the hotel and felt mild shakes about 10 times. But at midnight, we felt a strong one, so I checked the news. We’re somewhat worried but observing the situation,” she said, adding that her travel plans remain unchanged.
Santorini, a crescent-shaped island, receives daily arrivals by air, sea, and cruise ship. It attracts over 3 million visitors annually to its whitewashed villages perched on dramatic cliffs formed by a massive volcanic eruption – one of history’s largest – over 3,500 years ago.
That eruption, around 1620 B.C., devastated much of the island, covering a large area in ash, and is believed to have contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization.
While still an active volcano, its last significant eruption was in 1950.
Prominent Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos cautioned that the seismic activity – shown on live maps as a growing cluster of points between Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi – could signal a larger event.
“All possibilities remain,” Papadopoulos wrote online. “Tremors have increased in frequency and magnitude, and epicenters have shifted northeast. Though tectonic, not volcanic, the risk has risen.”
In Fira, Santorini’s main town, local authorities designated assembly points for residents in case of evacuation, though Mayor Nikos Zorzos emphasized the preventative nature of these measures.
“We must prepare, but preparedness doesn’t guarantee an event,” he said during a weekend briefing. “Sometimes, reporting exaggerates the situation… so remain calm.”