Thousands evacuate Santorini as earthquakes hit island
Thousands evacuate Santorini as earthquakes hit island
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Thousands have fled Santorini after a series of earthquakes were recorded near the popular holiday destination in the last 48 hours. Around 9,000 residents have left the island since Sunday, with further flights due to leave on Tuesday. Hundreds of quakes have been registered every few minutes in the sea between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos, in the Aegean Sea, in recent days, prompting authorities to shut schools in Santorini and the small nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos and Anafi until Friday.
A tremor with a magnitude of 4.9 was recorded by the Athens Geodynamic Institute early on Tuesday on the island. Hundreds of permanent residents and workers rushed to a port early on Tuesday to embark for Athens. Flights out of Santorini to Athens were full, Greek air carrier Aegean Airlines said on Tuesday. A total of 2,500 to 2,700 people were expected to have flown out since Monday by the end of the day, it added.
"We are going to leave because I am afraid, there are constantly earthquakes, we have to leave for the kids, so the kids can calm down," said Beni Ouklala, 38, who has temporary work on the island. However, others have vowed to stay, with one resident, Eftichis Diamantopouulos, 63, a tourist boat captain, telling Reuters: “We will stay here, why should we leave? If something happens it happens.”.
"We have (planned for) places for shelters for the population without structures and on level surfaces, there are eight places that can accommodate people," said Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos. Emergency rescue crews were also on the ground, while people were advised to stay out of coastal areas due to the risk of landslides and avoid indoor gatherings. Greece is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Europe as it sits at the boundary of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates whose constant interaction prompts frequent quakes.
