Greece declares state of emergency on Santorini after earthquakes

Greece’s authorities have declared a state of emergency on Santorini after a series of earthquakes shook the popular tourist destination.

More than 10,000 residents and workers fled the island this week as near-constant tremors and undersea earthquakes have been recorded between Santorini and the islands of Amorgos, Anafi and Ios.

A 5.2 magnitude quake struck on Wednesday night – the most powerful recorded since activity started on 31 January.

Authorities warned of a high landslide risk, and have shut schools, dispatched rescuers, and advised residents to avoid ports and indoor gatherings.

Some of the island’s famous cliff-top towns have been cordoned off.

Army, fire service and police units have also been deployed to the island.

The state of emergency is set to be in place until 3 March to allow Greece’s climate crisis and civil protection ministry to respond to the consequences of the seismic activity.

Greece is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries but seismologists have said the high level of activity is unprecedented and may last weeks or months.

The experts say the tremors are unrelated to volcanic activity in the Aegean Sea, but are unable to say whether they could lead up to a more powerful earthquake.

Read more: What is causing the ‘unusual seismic activity’?

“We are not yet in a position to say that we are seeing any evidence that would lead to the sequence slowly coming to a conclusion,” said Vassilis K Karastathis, a seismologist and director of research at National Observatory of Athens.

“We are still in the middle of the road, we haven’t seen any easing, any sign that it’s heading towards a regression.”

But the fact the tremors are underwater significantly reduces the potential for widespread damage compared to land-based seismic events.

Santorini was formed in its current shape following one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history in around 1600 BC.