Santorini has been hit by hundreds of tremors as an ‘earthquake swarm’ that began earlier this month continues.
A state of emergency was declared last week after the Greek island experienced thousands of quakes that have been increasing in strength and frequency.
Eleven quakes with a magnitude of at least four were felt on Saturday alone.
Since February 1, more than 800 tremors with a magnitude of three and above have been recorded.
The strongest, measuring 5.2, occurred last Wednesday and was even felt in Athens, Crete and parts of Turkey.
Greece sits on multiple fault lines and is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries.
More than 11,000 locals and holidaymakers have evacuated the island, with extra flights scheduled.
The state of emergency is set to stay in place until March 3. Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced £2.5million funding for an emergency evacuation route from the south of the island to be built.
Santorini continues to be hit by earthquakes increasing in strength and frequency
A state of emergency was declared on the Greek island last week, as more than 800 tremors of a magnitude of three and above have been recorded since February 1
Tents set up by authorities on a basketball court next to a hospital, creating a logistics centre
Emergency services set up near a hospital. A total of £2.5million has been announced in funding to build an emergency evacuation route from the south of the island
‘We are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best,’ he told locals during his visit to the island on Friday.
Many who have stayed on the island have been sleeping on the street with their mattresses, too scared to stay in their homes in case they collapse.
Other residents have built makeshift tsunami defences using sandbags along Monolithos beach, where buildings sit dangerously close to the water.
Hotel owners were even asked to drain their pools due to concerns that overflowing water could destabilise buildings in a quake.
However, no casualties or major damage have been reported so far.
Seismologists say the quakes are the result of tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity, despite Santorini sitting on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc – a chain of islands formed by ancient eruptions.
Greece is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries, but experts say the current level of activity is unprecedented – and could continue for weeks or even months.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
