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Santorini, one of Greece’s most popular islands, is currently grappling with intense seismic activity, triggering an exodus of both locals and tourists.
Over 200 earthquakes have been recorded in Santorini over the past three days, with the highest recorded at magnitude 5.
More than 11,000 people have fled the island, with around 7,000 departing by ferry and 4,000 people leaving by air.
The frequency and intensity of these quakes has raised concern, particularly amongst locals, around the possibility of a volcanic eruption. Though accustomed to earthquakes, residents have voiced fears of ‘toxic volcanic smoke’ should an eruption occur, reports The Guardian.
The last significant volcanic eruption on the island occurred in the 1950s. While experts have reported that the current tremors are tectonic rather than volcanic, authorities remain on high alert.
Head of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthymis Lekkas has urged the public to remain calm, adding that a magnitude six or greater quake was unlikely, but could not be ruled out.
“The residents of Santorini should feel safe. There must not be panic,” he told Mega TV on Tuesday.
Director of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, Vasilis Karastathis says that Greece has not experienced a succession of earthquakes of this magnitude before.
“In our country, we have not seen anything similar with so many earthquakes of this magnitude. On the contrary, we see an increase in frequency and magnitude,” he said, in conversation with ERT on Wednesday morning, adding: “Things are developing in a way that concerns us… we cannot reassure people,”
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