Hundreds of Santorini residents boarded a ferry to Athens early on Tuesday, February 4, after the island was shaken by earthquakes for the fourth consecutive day.
On Monday, February 3, earthquakes with magnitudes above 4 were recorded every few minutes on Santorini. Authorities advised people to avoid staying indoors or in small ports. As a precaution, emergency response teams were deployed to the area.
"No one expected this to happen. What is happening on the island right now is unbelievable," said 35-year-old Julian Sinanaj, who has been living on Santorini for years.
Seismic activity has been recorded between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos in the Aegean Sea since January 31. Authorities have ordered the closure of schools on Santorini and the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi until February 7.
Experts say that due to the island's steep cliffs and geographic structure, seismic activity is expected to continue for weeks.
Residents Forced to Leave
Some residents have already started leaving Santorini. Thirty-five-year-old Tzanis Lignos described the situation as critical and said he was heading to Athens with his family:
"For three days now, the earthquakes have been constant, shaking the island every five minutes. The entire population is in shock. We’ve been trying to find tickets for three days—there were no ferry or plane tickets available. Last night, when we tried to book one, the last seat was already taken. Airlines have added extra flights, but ticket prices have skyrocketed to 300-350 euros per person. Fortunately, we managed to get ferry tickets for myself, my wife, and our children," Lignos said.
Another resident, 72-year-old Zoi Lignou, decided to temporarily relocate to the nearby island of Naxos for a few days:
"The earthquakes are non-stop, and the situation is intense. We have been patient for three days, but today was the worst, so we decided to leave for as long as necessary to calm down," she said.
Some Choose to Stay
Despite the ongoing tremors, some residents are choosing to stay on the island for now. Eirini Rousou, a 45-year-old pharmacist from Santorini, admitted that the situation is unsettling but emphasized the need to remain calm:
"It’s a bit worrying, and of course, we are scared. But we don’t want to panic. Unfortunately, the tremors are not stopping and won’t stop anytime soon."
On Monday, Aegean Airlines added three extra flights to and from Santorini at the request of Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry. Crowds of people were seen waiting at the island’s port, and long lines formed at ticket agencies.
Local officials noted that permanent residents are generally accustomed to such earthquakes. However, many workers and temporary residents have chosen to leave for now.
Greece sits on multiple fault lines and frequently experiences earthquakes. One of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in history took place in Santorini around 1600 BC, shaping the island’s current landscape. The last volcanic eruption in the area occurred in 1950.
Experts have stated that the mild volcanic activity recently observed near Santorini is not related to the earthquakes.
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