The Greek government officially declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini on Thursday, February 6. The announcement follows a magnitude 5.2 earthquake that hit the island late Wednesday night—the most powerful tremor recorded since increased seismic activity began last week.
While the tremors haven’t caused significant damage so far, most travelers and residents have already fled the tourism hotspot. More than 11,000 people have evacuated Santorini, the BBC reports, with approximately 7,000 people having departed the island by ferry and 4,000 people evacuating by air, according to official estimates.
“While some residents have chosen to leave as a precaution, there has been no evacuation order issued, and movement remains a personal decision,” says Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist Mina Agnos, who is based in the Athenian Riviera. “As a proactive measure, schools have been temporarily closed, and a state of emergency is in place until March 3. This is a standard administrative protocol used in seismically active areas when tremor frequency increases, allowing local authorities to implement necessary precautionary measures and allocate resources efficiently.” Seismic activity in Greece is closely monitored by experts, and decisions regarding a full return of residents will depend on how conditions in Santorini evolve over the coming days, she adds.
Greece’s position on multiple fault lines means the country often experiences tremors and earthquakes across the mainland and islands. However, more than 200 tremors have been recorded in the Aegean region between Santorini and Amorgos, per the Ministry for Civil Protection, which represents an atypical spike in seismic activity for the region.
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the batch of tremors as part of “a very intense geological phenomenon” and urged those on the island to “remain calm.” As a precaution, schools were closed and emergency crews were deployed to Santorini earlier this week. The earthquakes could last for several more days or even weeks, officials say, with the prime minister emphasizing that future earthquakes are impossible to predict.
This story has been updated with new information since its original publication date.
What is causing the Santorini earthquakes?
There are currently three distinct geological phenomena playing out near Santorini, the prime minister said at a Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection press conference on February 5.
The first is volcanic activity in Nea Kameni, which is “not unusual,” nor something that “currently seems to pose any particular risks,” he said. The second is “constant activity in the underwater volcano of Columbo,” and the third is tectonic activity on the Anydros fault, which is “currently the most worrying” and “what has caused the many prolonged earthquakes,” Mitsotakis said.
Is it safe to travel to Santorini?
The US Embassy in Greece released a natural disaster alert for US citizens on Monday, February 3. “Following increased seismic activity, the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has issued advice for Amorgos, Santorini (Thira), Anafi, and Ios, including not to attend large indoor gatherings and to avoid old or abandoned buildings,” the alert says. “Additionally, the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection advises people to avoid the ports of Amoudi, Armeni, Korfos, and Old Port (Paleos Limenas) in the area of Fira, and to choose safe routes when traveling, particularly in areas where the landslide risk is high. In case of a strong tremor, people should immediately depart coastal areas.”