Greek island of Santorini deploys emergency services after increased seismic activity

Emergency precautions have been taken on the island of Santorini in Greece after a spike in seismic activity has led to concerns that a large-scale earthquake could hit the region.

Schools have been closed and emergency services have been deployed on the ground after approximately 200 small earthquakes have occurred beneath the sea over the past 72 hours, and similar measures have been taken on other nearby islands in the Aegean Sea.

Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias announced on Sunday after an emergency government meeting in Greece’s capital, Athens, that “these measures are precautionary, and authorities will remain vigilant,” adding, “we urge citizens to strictly adhere to safety recommendations to minimize risk.”

There is little that indicates that the activity is linked to Santorini Caldera, the island’s volcano, but experts have warned that the frequency of the earthquakes, which have so far peaked at a magnitude of 4.8, are enough cause for concern.  

Some local residents have reported that they have been feeling an earthquake up to once every 10 minutes. “No one can knows what will happen,” local resident Michalis Gerontakis told AP News. “People can say whatever they like, but that has no value. You cannot contend with nature.”

Local residents have been ordered to refrain from attending large indoor gatherings and to avoid areas where a landslide could potentially happen to minimise the risk of casualties on the island.

Santorini is a popular holiday destination, bringing in over 3million visitors every year. Formed by the eruption of the volcano approximately 3,500 years ago, the island sits close to a major tectonic plate convergence, meaning that the risk of earthquakes in the area is significantly higher.

Despite measuring a magnitude of 4.8, which registers as ‘light-moderate’, Nikos Zorzos, the mayor of the island’s most populous town, Fira, says that preventative measures are necessary. In a briefing, he stated that “we are obliged to make preparations” and that “people should stay calm.”