- In the last three days, more than 200 submarine earthquakes have been recorded near the Egean marine islands, popular summer vacation destinations.
- Local authorities take precautions, including arrangement of emergency teams, forbiding access to some marine areas near cliffs and instructing hotels to exhaust the pools.
- Greek experts say that earthquakes are not associated with Santorini’s volcano, which was the source of one of the greatest volcanic eruptions in human history more than 3,500 years ago.
The schools were closed and emergency teams arranged on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini on Monday after the jump of seismic activities caused concern about a potentially powerful earthquake.
Caution measures have also been ordered to several nearby Aegean marine islands – all Popular Destinations for Summer Rest – After more than 200 submarine earthquakes were recorded in the area.
“We have a very intense geological phenomenon for solving,” said Brussels, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where he attended a European meeting. “I want to ask our islanders first and foremost to stay calm, to listen to the instructions of civil protection (authorities).”
The earthquake near the maine coast shakes the northeast
Mobile phones on the island shone with warned warnings on sliding potential, while several earthquakes caused a loud rumble. The authorities forbade access to some marine areas, including the old port of the island, which are close to cliffs.
“These measures are a caution, and the authorities will remain awake,” said civil protection minister Vasilis Kikilias late Sunday after the Government meeting in an emergency in Athens. “We invite citizens to strictly adhere to safety recommendations to reduce the risk.”
While Greek experts say that earthquakes, many with sizes above 4.5, are not associated with Santorini’s volcano, they acknowledge that the seismic activity pattern is the cause of concern.
The Nea Kameni volcanic island, to the left, was seen from Fira, the capital of Santorini, because the Greek authorities take emergency measures in response to an intense seismic activity on the popular island of the Aegean seafood in Greece, February 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Government officials met with scientists over the weekend and Monday to evaluate the situation, while the schools were ordered and closed on the nearby islands of Amorgos, Anafa and IOS.
Residents are worried
The frequency of an earthquake, which continued on Sunday night and on Monday, cared for residents and visitors.
“I have never felt something like this with such a frequency – an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes. Everyone is worried, even if some of us hide that they don’t cause panic, but everyone is worried,” said Michalis Gerontakis, who is also the director Santorini Philharmonic Orchestra.
“We came out yesterday. Despite the earthquakes, the Philharmonic made a religious opportunity,” Gerontakis said. “When you play, you can’t feel earthquakes, but there were earthquakes when we were in church. No one can know what happens. People can say whatever they want, but there is no value. You can’t fight nature.”
Residents and visitors were advised to avoid large closed gatherings and areas where diamonds on rocks could occur, while hotels were instructed to exhaust pools to reduce the potential building earthquake damage.
The rescuers of the fire department who arrived on the island on Sunday set yellow tents as an area to place inside the basketball court next to the main hospital of the island.
“We arrived last night, the 26-member team of lifeguards and one rescue dog,” said the fire brigadier Ioannis Billias, adding that many residents, including the whole family, spent the night in their cars.
Some residents and local workers headed to passenger agents looking for tickets for a plane or ferry to leave the island.
“We had earthquakes before, but never anything like this. This is felt different,” Nadia Benomar said, a Moroccan guide who lived on the island for 19 years. She bought a ferry ticket on Monday for a nearby Naxos Island.
“I have to escape a few days until things are calm,” she said.
Tourists pass by closed shops in the City of Fira, while the Greek authorities are preparing for a potential earthquake after discovering more than 200 submarine earthquakes nearby, on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Others said they were ready to take the risk. The Yiannis Fragiadakis restaurant worker was absent, but said he returned to Santorini on Sunday despite the earthquakes.
“I was not afraid. I know people are really worried and leaving, and when I arrived at Luke, it was really busy, it was like summer,” Fragiadakis said. “I plan to stay and I hope the restaurant will start working (for the holiday season) in three weeks.”
South Korean tourist Soo Jin Kim from Seoul arrived on a family vacation on Sunday.
“We had dinner at the hotel last night and we felt mild Shakes about 10 times. But at midnight we felt a big, big shake, so I checked the news report. We stored half and half to see what the situation is,” she said, adding that she was not planned to change her travel plans.
Volkan Santorini Broke 3,500 years ago
Crescent moon Santorini is the main tourist destination with daily arrivals through commercial flights, ferries and cruise ships. The island is attracted to more than 3 million visitors annually in their white villages built with dramatic cliffs formed by a massive volcanic eruption – which is considered to be one of the greatest in human history – more than 3,500 years ago.
This eruption, which occurred around 1620 BC, destroyed a large part of the island, covered a wide surface in the legs of the ash, which is believed to have contributed to the fall of the ancient Minoan civilization, which flourished in the region.
Although it is still an active volcano, the last noticed eruption occurred in 1950.
Prominent Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos warned that the current earthquake sequence – Shown on the live seismic folders as a growing set of dots between the island of Santorini, iOS, Amorgos and Anafi – it could indicate a larger upcoming event.
“All scenarios remain open,” Papadopoulos wrote in an internet post. “The number of trembling increased, the sizes increased, and the epicenter moved to the northeast. Although they were tectonic earthquakes, not volcanic, the risk level escalated.”
In the capital of Santorini Fira, local authorities determined the gathering points for residents in preparation for potential evacuation, although Mayor Nikos Zorzos emphasized the preventive nature of measures.
“We are obliged to prepare. But prepared for something does not mean that it will happen,” he said during the briefing for the weekend. “Sometimes, the way the situation is reported, these reports may contain an exaggeration … How people should remain calm.”
