Over 300 Earthquakes in 48 Hours on Santorini, At Least 10,000 Tourists and Locals Evacuate in Panic

Over 300 Earthquakes in 48 Hours on Santorini, At Least 10,000 Tourists and Locals Evacuate in Panic

More than 300 earthquakes have been recorded on the Greek island of Santorini in the past 48 hours, prompting thousands of residents to flee for safety. Since Sunday, nearly 9,000 people have left the island, and additional emergency flights are scheduled to depart on Tuesday.

Seismologists have warned that these tremors may continue for several more weeks. On Tuesday afternoon, a large earthquake struck, measuring 5 on the Richter scale. So far, there have been no reports of significant damage on the island, but as a precaution, authorities have closed schools and advised people to avoid large indoor gatherings.

Rescue teams from countries like Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar have arrived on the island. Local residents are preparing shelters and taking special measures to cope with any potential larger earthquakes.

According to local media, about 6,000 people have left the island by ferry, and 2,500 to 2,700 passengers have flown to Athens by plane. Aegean Airlines has arranged nine emergency flights in response to the situation.

Kostas Sakavaras, a university professor who has lived on Santorini for 18 years, left the island with his family on Monday. He said, "We decided to move to the mainland for safety."

Most evacuees at this time are local residents and workers, not tourists. Although the tourist season in Santorini has not yet begun, many people are leaving the island to protect their lives.

Santorini's Mayor, Nikos Zorzos, stated, "This is a natural event that could last for a few more weeks, and we must deal with it with patience and calm."

Seismologists also reported that the epicenter of the earthquakes is a small island named Anydros, located near Santorini. While there is concern about the possibility of stronger earthquakes in the future, authorities have taken precautionary measures.