Greece earthquake warnings: Schools closed, flights added to help people leave Santorini Island | Updates | World news
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Greece earthquake warnings: Schools closed, flights added to help people leave Santorini Island | Updates | World news

03 February 2025 06:40 ist

Shakes between Santorini and Amorgos since Friday led to school closures in Santorini, iOS, Amorgos and anafi, as the authorities monitor the seismic activity.

Santorini schools were closed and further flights were arranged on Monday to help people leave the Greek island as earthquake shakes continued to shake the popular tourist site for the fourth day in a row, reported the Reuters news agency.

Tourists walk on the narrow streets of the Fira city of the popular Aegean Holiday Island Santorini, Southern Greece, Monday 3 February 2025, when emergency herds were placed on the island after a nail in seismic activity caused anxiety about a potentially powerful earthquake. (Ap)
Tourists walk on the narrow streets of the Fira city of the popular Aegean Holiday Island Santorini, Southern Greece, Monday 3 February 2025, when emergency herds were placed on the island after a nail in seismic activity caused anxiety about a potentially powerful earthquake. (Ap)

Since Friday, shakings have been registered between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos in the Aegean Sea, which leads the authorities to turn off schools in Santorini and the nearby islands iOS, Amorgos and Anafi.

On Monday, Quakes Santorini laughed with a few minutes, some measure over 4 in size. As a precaution, people were invited to stay away from indoor spaces and small ports, and disaster products were distributed.

When he spoke from Brussels, Greek Prime Minister Kyriako’s Mitsotaki’s calm after a series of seismic shaking hit the tourist island Santorini, which led to mass departure, AFP reported. He acknowledged that the authorities monitored a “very intense” geological phenomenon in recent days and urged the islanders to “remain calm.”

Motorists and travelers are waiting for the quay for the arrival of the ferry in the port of the Greek island of Santorini on February 3, 2025, when preparing to leave in the wake of recurring earthquakes. Fresh shivers overnight shook Greece's best Turistö Santorini, says the media reports, causing people to sleep outdoors and others to leave by flight or ferry. (AFP)
Motorists and travelers are waiting for the quay for the arrival of the ferry in the port of the Greek island of Santorini on February 3, 2025, when preparing to leave in the wake of recurring earthquakes. Fresh shivers overnight shook Greece’s best Turistö Santorini, says the media reports, causing people to sleep outdoors and others to leave by flight or ferry. (AFP)

So far, the earthquakes in Santorini and Amorgos have not exceeded a size of 5, and no significant damage has been reported. As a precautionary measure, the authorities have also set up tents to house people if needed.

Earthquakes are common in Greece, with an earthquake of 6.3 size that hit Crete in 2021.

People are waiting to buy boat and air tickets when Greek authorities take emergency measures in response to intense seismic activity on the popular Egean holiday island Santorini, southern Greece, February 3, 2025. (AP)
People are waiting to buy boat and air tickets when Greek authorities take emergency measures in response to intense seismic activity on the popular Egean holiday island Santorini, southern Greece, February 3, 2025. (AP)
People are waiting to buy boat and air tickets when Greek authorities take emergency measures in response to intense seismic activity on the popular Egean Sea Island Santorini, Southern Greece, Monday 3 February 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (AP)
People are waiting to buy boat and air tickets when Greek authorities take emergency measures in response to intense seismic activity on the popular Egean Sea Island Santorini, Southern Greece, Monday 3 February 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (AP)

Updates of ‘High Earthquake Alert’ in Greece

  • Precautions were implemented on several adjacent Aegean sea islands, all of which are popular summer destinations after more than 200 earthquakes were registered in the area in the last three days.
  • Aegean Airlines announced that it would drive another three flights to and from Santorini on Monday and Tuesday to facilitate trips for residents and visitors, in response to a request from Greece’s civilian Ministry of Protection.
  • The earthquake exposed neighboring amorgos is under surveillance as a precaution, with people recommended to avoid small ports. Special search and rescue teams were placed to Santorini.
  • Government officials held meetings with researchers to evaluate the situation, while schools on nearby islands such as Amorgos, Anafi and iOS were closed.
  • In Santorini’s capital celebrate, local authorities set up appointed collection points for the residents as part of the evacuation preparations, although mayor Nikos Zorzos emphasized that these were only precautions.
  • Experts predict that the seismic activity in the area will continue for several weeks. Efthymios Lekkas, professor of tectonic geology and disaster management, stated that the business could last for a few days.
  • Local officials said that permanent residents were not too worried because they are used to earthquakes, but some visitors to the island for work began to leave because of the ongoing shaking.
  • Greece, located on several fault lines, often experiences earthquakes. Santorini’s current form was formed by one of history’s largest volcanic eruptions around 1600 BC, with the last outbreak that occurred in 1950.

(With efforts from agencies)

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