Greece has declared an month-long state of emergency on Santorini after a series of earthquakes forced thousands of people to flee the tourist hotspot.
Since January 31, a series of undersea tremors have been recorded between Santorini and the neighbouring islands of Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios, with the strongest- a 5.2-magnitude quake – striking on Wednesday night.
On Thursday evening, a 4.6 magnitude quake was recorded at 20:16 local time in the sea between Santorini and Amorgos, followed by a 4.2 magnitude quake roughly two hours later.
The near-constant tremors have left residents and tourists terrified, with authorities shutting schools, cordoning off cliff-top towns, and warning of landslides.
Locals have been urged to stay away from ports and avoid gathering indoors, as emergency crews – including the army, fire service, and police – have been deployed across the island.
The emergency measures will remain in place until at least March 3, allowing Greece’s climate crisis and civil protection ministry to coordinate its response to the ongoing seismic activity.
More than 11,000 people have now fled Santorini as the island remains gripped by the relentless earthquakes, with tremors now being recorded minute by minute.
Experts have warned that the island is facing a ‘seismic crisis’ with no clear end in sight, raising fears of a larger, more destructive quake in the days ahead.
Firefighters walk in the almost evacuated village of Fira in Santorini, Greece, 06 February 2025
A police cordon blocks access to an area in Santorini as earthquake fears prompt heightened safety measures
Residents and tourists scramble to leave Greek island on ferries and planes due to ongoing seismic activity in Santorini
While Thursday’s tremors have not yet matched the 5.2-magnitude quake that struck on Wednesday, authorities remain on high alert for potential landslides and aftershocks.
So far, no injuries or major damage have been reported, but emergency teams are preparing for the worst.
Some residents have taken matters into their own hands, building makeshift tsunami defences using sandbags along Monolithos beach, where buildings sit dangerously close to the water.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is set to visit Santorini on Friday, has called for calm while reassuring residents that authorities are ready to respond.
‘All emergency plans have been implemented. Forces have been deployed to Santorini and the surrounding islands so we are ready for any eventuality,’ he said.
Seismologists say the quakes are the result of tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity, despite Santorini sitting on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc – a chain of islands formed by ancient eruptions.
Greece is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries, but seismologists say the current level of activity is unlike anything seen before – and could continue for weeks or even months.
Since January 31, a series of undersea tremors have been recorded between Santorini and the neighbouring islands of Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios, with the strongest- a 5.2-magnitude quake – striking on Wednesday night
Greece declared a state of emergency for Santorini, the focal point of ongoing seismic activity in the southern Aegean Sea
Dust rises following a landslide during high seismic activity, on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 3, 2025
People cross a police cordon as they evacuate their home in the village of Oia on Santorini island, Greece, 05 February 2025
Despite the alarm, experts insist the tremors are not linked to volcanic activity in the region. However, they cannot rule out the possibility of an even stronger earthquake.
Seismologist Vassilis K. Karastathis of the National Observatory of Athens admitted: ‘We are still in the middle of this – we haven’t seen any signs that the activity is slowing down.’
The only silver lining, experts say, is that because the tremors are occurring underwater, the risk of catastrophic destruction is lower compared to land-based quakes.
Earlier in the week, prominent Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos cautioned that the current earthquake sequence – displayed on live seismic maps as a growing cluster of dots between the islands of Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi – could indicate a larger impending event.
‘I have never felt anything like this and with such frequency – an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes. Everyone is anxious even if some of us hide it not to cause panic, but everyone is worried,’ said Santorini local Michalis Gerontakis.
Mobile phones on the island blared with alert warnings about the potential for rockslides, while several earthquakes caused loud rumbles.
Government officials met with scientists throughout the weekend and on Monday to assess the situation, while schools were also ordered shut on the nearby islands of Amorgos, Anafi and Ios for the entire week.
Despite the alarm, experts insist the tremors are not linked to volcanic activity in the region
More than 11,000 people have now fled Santorini as the island remains gripped by the relentless earthquakes, with tremors now being recorded minute by minute
Residents and tourists scramble to leave Greek island on ferries
Earthquakes measuring 6.0 or higher are considered severe, while the 5.2-magnitude tremor recorded on Wednesday is classified as moderate
Residents and visitors were advised to avoid large indoor gatherings and areas where rock slides could occur, while hotels were instructed to drain swimming pools to reduce potential building damage from an earthquake.
Fire service rescuers who arrived on the island on Sunday set up yellow tents as a staging area inside a basketball court next to the island’s main hospital.
‘We arrived last night, a 26-member team of rescuers and one rescue dog,’ said fire brigadier Ioannis Billias, adding that many residents, including entire families, spent the night in their cars.
Some residents and local workers headed to travel agents seeking plane or ferry tickets to leave the island.
‘We’ve had earthquakes before but never anything like this. This feels different,’ said Nadia Benomar, a Moroccan tour guide who has lived on the island for 19 years. She bought a ferry ticket Monday for the nearby island of Naxos.
‘I need to get away for a few days until things calm down,’ she said.
Earthquakes measuring 6.0 or higher are considered severe, while the 5.2-magnitude tremor recorded on Wednesday is classified as moderate.
For now, residents and those who remain on the island can do little more than brace for the unknown, as tremors continue to shake the ground beneath one of Greece’s most iconic tourist destinations.
