A series of hundreds of earthquakes, beginning last week, has led to the evacuation of thousands of people from the popular tourist destination of Santorini.
Santorini’s mayor, Nikos Zorzos, informed the Associated Press that the tremors constitute a “seismic swarm” and could persist for several weeks before subsiding.
Zorzos explained that this activity might manifest as a series of minor quakes or a single, slightly more powerful quake, followed by a gradual decrease in activity, adding that he is cautiously optimistic based on conversations with seismologists.
Over 200 earthquakes, with magnitudes reaching up to 5, have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday.
Approximately 9,000 individuals have departed Santorini since Sunday, with increased ferry and flight services arranged to facilitate these departures.
Santorini has suspended public events, restricted access to the island, and prohibited construction in specific areas. While the quakes have caused cracks in some older buildings, no injuries have been reported. The island’s population is roughly 15,500.
Efthimios Lekkas, head of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, stated that the earthquakes’ epicenter is shifting northward, away from Santorini, and emphasized that there is no link to the region’s inactive volcanoes.
“This activity could last for days or weeks. Predicting the precise timeline of this sequence is impossible,” Lekkas stated in an interview with state television.