In SANTORINI, Greece (AP) — The island of Santorini in Greece, known for its volcanic activity, has been experiencing continuous earthquakes, with tremors occurring every few minutes throughout the night and into Wednesday. Authorities are on high alert, enhancing their emergency plans in case the ongoing tremors signal the possibility of a larger earthquake looming on the horizon. Search and rescue teams, including a sniffer dog and drones, have been dispatched to Santorini as a precautionary measure since Sunday. Coastal areas have been cordoned off, schools have been closed for the week, and public events on the island have been prohibited.
In response to the seismic activity, several other islands in the Cyclades region have also closed their schools. Thousands of residents and tourists have evacuated Santorini due to the hundreds of earthquakes ranging from magnitude 3 to magnitude 5 that have rocked the area since the weekend. Ferry and airline companies have increased their services to accommodate the surge in demand, although ferry operations have been disrupted on Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to convene an emergency meeting at the Civil Protection Ministry in Athens later in the day to address the situation. The epicenters of the earthquakes have been located beneath the seabed between Santorini and the neighboring island of Amorgos. Despite the frequency of the tremors, no significant injuries or damage have been reported so far, although isolated incidents of rockslides and structural cracks in older buildings have been noted on Santorini.
Greece is situated in an area prone to seismic activity, making earthquakes a common occurrence. However, the intensity and frequency of earthquakes experienced in the Santorini-Amorgos region are highly unusual. Experts emphasize that predicting earthquakes is currently beyond scientific capability, and it remains uncertain whether the recent seismic activity could foreshadow a more powerful earthquake or is part of an ongoing earthquake swarm that may continue with smaller or moderate tremors in the coming weeks or months.
Recent monitoring had detected heightened volcanic activity within Santorini’s flooded crater, or caldera, although scientists assert that this is unrelated to the ongoing earthquakes. Furthermore, experts believe that the seismic events are unlikely to trigger either of the region’s two volcanoes. The Southeast Aegean regional governor has revealed that the country’s electricity provider has mobilized personnel and resources to Santorini to prepare for potential power outages. The government is also collaborating with telecommunication companies to establish backup plans in case of network disruptions in the affected area.
___Contributions to this report by Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece.
