Strong earthquake near Santorini after days of tremors

A strong earthquake recently struck between the Greek islands of Amorgos and Santorini, following a series of aftershocks in the region.

Currently, over 11,000 people have left Santorini, with approximately 7,000 departing by ferry and 4,000 by plane. The earthquake was preceded by two smaller aftershocks minutes before the main event. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT), the strongest in the recent sequence, with an estimated depth of 5 kilometers.

So far, no major damage has been reported on the island, but authorities have taken precautionary measures. Santorini welcomes millions of tourists annually, but it is currently the off-season, so the evacuees are primarily local residents and workers.

Schools on Santorini and other neighboring islands, including Anafi, Paros, Naxos, and Mykonos, will remain closed until Friday, at which point authorities will decide when to reopen them. Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias stated that firefighter units specializing in natural disasters have been dispatched to Santorini. Teams equipped with special dogs and a mobile operations center have also been sent to the island, and helicopters are on standby to respond to emergencies. Kikilias also mentioned that the coast guard and armed forces will be ready to assist vulnerable groups wishing to evacuate.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered an optimistic address at a meeting of civil protection experts earlier on Wednesday. "First of all, the state trusts science and scientists. We have done so in other crises as well," the Prime Minister said. "All plans have been implemented. Forces have been transferred to Santorini and other islands so that we are prepared for any eventuality," Mitsotakis emphasized. "We will continue to do so, and we hope that things will improve and this phenomenon will subside." Mitsotakis concluded by urging islanders to "remain calm and cooperate with the authorities." He added, "I understand the fear on Santorini, which is constantly shaking," and stressed that the situation would be assessed daily.

Santorini is located on a chain of volcanic islands known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, but the last major eruption occurred in the 1950s. Greek authorities have stated that the recent earthquakes are related to tectonic plate movement rather than volcanic activity. Scientists cannot predict the exact time, size, or location of earthquakes. However, earthquakes are more likely to occur in certain areas of the world, which helps governments prepare. Earthquakes are the result of tectonic plate movement in the Earth's crust. Sometimes, these plates lock together where they meet, which is known as a plate boundary or fault line. Santorini and other Greek islands are located near such a line.