Fresh tremors shake top Greek tourist island Santorini
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Schools on the Greek tourist island of Santorini will remain closed after hundreds of small earthquakes shook the region.
PHOTO: AFP
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ATHENS - Fresh overnight tremors shook Greece’s top tourist island Santorini, media reports said on Feb 3, prompting people to sleep outdoors and others to leave by plane or ferry.
Over 200 minor earthquakes were recorded at sea or on surrounding islands, with the strongest – of magnitude 4.6 – striking the waters between Santorini and Amorgos on the afternoon of Feb 2.
A 4.2-magnitude quake was recorded at 7.10am on Feb 3 north-west of the small island of Anafi, near Santorini, said the National Observatory of Athens’ Institute of Geodynamics.
Organisation of Antiseismic Planning and Protection president Efthymios Lekkas told public broadcaster ERT on Feb 3 that there was a “faint possibility of a 5.5-magnitude earthquake”, but ruled out one measuring over 6.0.
The Greek media said several people spent the night outdoors, either in their cars or in areas designated as safe by the authorities.
Many left the island on flights or ferries, media reports said.
Schools on the island of some 15,500 were closed on Feb 3.
The Greek authorities have asked people to avoid large gatherings in enclosed spaces and stay away from certain ports, derelict buildings, and empty swimming pools.
Santorini welcomed 3.4 million visitors in 2023, raising concerns over overtourism. AFP
