State of emergency declared for Santorini after quakes

A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Santorini following several consecutive earthquakes. The declaration came after a magnitude 5.2 tremor struck at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT) on Wednesday, located between the Greek islands of Amorgos and Santorini. This was the strongest tremor in recent days and occurred at a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles).

The state of emergency will remain in effect until March 3 to "address emergency needs and manage the consequences," according to officials. More than 11,000 people have already evacuated Santorini, with around 7,000 leaving by ferry and 4,000 by air.

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake was also recorded southwest of Amorgos at 07:50 local time on Thursday, following 57 tremors between midnight and 06:30. While the strongest tremor, at magnitude 5.2, is considered moderate, a magnitude 6.0 or higher would be deemed severe.

So far, no major damage has been reported on Santorini, but authorities are preparing for the possibility of a stronger quake. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit the island on Friday.

Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute, told Greek state broadcaster ERT News that seismic activity is continuing at the same rate as in previous days, with numerous earthquakes registering magnitudes above 4.

"We are still in the middle of the situation. There are no signs that the tremors are subsiding," he said.

Santorini, which typically attracts millions of tourists each year, is currently in its low season. As a result, most of the evacuees are local residents and workers.

A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Santorini following a series of earthquakes. The strongest tremor, a magnitude 5.2, struck on Wednesday night between Amorgos and Santorini. The emergency decree will last until March 3 to address urgent needs and manage the aftermath.

Over 11,000 people have already evacuated, with around 7,000 leaving by ferry and 4,000 by air. While no significant damage has been reported, authorities are bracing for a potential larger quake. A 4.7 magnitude earthquake also hit the region on Thursday morning, following 57 tremors earlier in the day. Seismologists indicate that the seismic activity remains intense.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to visit Santorini on Friday. Authorities are preparing for possible damage by deploying medical personnel, additional ambulance crews, soldiers, and military vehicles. Emergency repairs to public infrastructure are already underway, bypassing usual bureaucratic delays.

While the island sees a high volume of tourists, it's currently low season, and most evacuees are local residents. Fears of a tsunami have prompted the construction of makeshift defenses along Monolithos beach. Hospitals are on alert, with all employees required to stay on duty. Ferry services to the mainland have been disrupted due to poor weather, and schools across Santorini and neighboring islands are closed until further notice.

Despite the uncertainty, Prime Minister Mitsotakis assured the public that contingency plans are in place and encouraged islanders to remain calm and cooperate with authorities. The local Chamber of Commerce has requested businesses suspend operations and urged emergency support measures similar to those during the Covid-19 crisis.

Santorini lies along the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, a chain of islands formed by volcanic activity. The most recent significant eruption occurred in the 1950s.

Greek authorities have stated that the recent tremors were due to tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity.

While scientists cannot predict the exact timing, magnitude, or location of earthquakes, certain regions are more prone to seismic activity, which helps governments prepare accordingly.

Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates in the Earth's crust move. At times, these plates can become locked together where they meet, creating a plate boundary or fault line.