Mass exodus from Santorini as earthquakes rattle Greek tourist haven

Hundreds of people have left Santorini by ferry and plane as a series of earthquakes continue to shake the popular Greek tourist island.

According to seismologists, seismic activity has been persistent in recent days, with hundreds of tremors recorded every few minutes in the sea between Santorini and Amorgos, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Athens Geodynamic Institute recorded the strongest tremor at 4.9 magnitude early on February 4.

Authorities have responded by closing schools on Santorini and the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi until at least February 7. Meanwhile, residents and seasonal workers have rushed to leave, with large crowds gathering at Santorini’s port to board ferries to Athens. 

Flights to the Greek capital have also been fully booked, with Aegean Airlines reporting that up to 2,700 people were expected to have flown out by the end of February 4.

For some, the decision to leave was straightforward. “We are going to leave because I am afraid,” said Beni Ouklala, a temporary worker on the island. “There are constantly earthquakes. We have to leave for the kids, so they can calm down.”

Others, however, remained unfazed. Eftichis Diamantopoulos, a tourist boat captain, insisted he would stay. “Why should we leave? If something happens, it happens.”

Although Santorini sees hundreds of thousands of visitors in the summer, it is far quieter at this time of year. However, with seismologists warning that the seismic activity could continue for days or even weeks, local authorities have put emergency accommodation plans in place.

“We have designated eight locations with level surfaces that can serve as shelters for people in need,” said Santorini’s mayor, Nikos Zorzos. Emergency response teams have also been deployed, while residents and visitors have been urged to avoid coastal areas due to the risk of landslides and to stay out of large indoor gatherings.

Precautionary measures have extended to hotels, some of which have begun emptying their swimming pools after advice that excessive water loads could make buildings more vulnerable. Construction work has also been suspended.

Greece sits at the boundary of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in Europe. Santorini itself was shaped by a massive volcanic eruption around 1600 BC, one of the largest in recorded history. The last eruption in the area occurred in 1950.

By Aghakazim Guliyev