Santorini shaken: 200 earthquakes lead to school closures and safety measures
Schools on the Greek island of Santorini will remain closed on Monday following a series of 200 earthquakes that struck the popular tourist destination in recent days.
Authorities have also urged residents to avoid large indoor gatherings and stay clear of several ports, including the old port of Fira, which is located just below the island's capital. Schools will also be shut on the nearby Aegean islands of Anafi, Ios, and Amorgos, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Between Friday and Sunday, more than 200 tremors were recorded between Santorini and Amorgos, including a 4.6 magnitude quake, the strongest so far, according to authorities.
Santorini, situated on numerous fault lines, is accustomed to seismic activity. Despite the ongoing risk, approximately 3.4 million tourists visit the island annually, far exceeding the island's resident population of about 20,000.
The island is renowned for its crescent-shaped caldera, formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history about 3,600 years ago, and has earned the nickname “Instagram island” due to its photogenic sunsets and striking landscapes.
An emergency committee convened on Sunday to evaluate the potential risks from the recent tremors, with another meeting planned for Monday.
Santorini is located within the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, one of the most active volcanic zones in Europe, which has witnessed over 100 eruptions in the past 400,000 years.
Officials have stated that the current seismic activity is caused by tectonic movements, rather than volcanic activity. They also highlighted that previous seismic surges in 2011 and 2012 did not result in eruptions, indicating that the current tremors are not linked to volcanic processes.
The last major earthquake in Santorini occurred on July 9, 1956. That quake, which registered a magnitude of 7.5, was followed by a tsunami up to 25 meters (approximately 80 feet) high, causing the deaths of at least 53 people, injuring more than 100, and destroying about a third of the island's buildings.
