Thousands of residents are fleeing the Greek island of Santorini amid a wave of seismic activity.
More than 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the past 48 hours near the island – and some experts say tremors may continue for weeks.
Authorities have closed schools for the entire week and warned against large indoor gatherings, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged calm.
Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived on Santorini for 18 years, left the island with his wife and children on Monday.
Santorini’s Mayor, Nikos Zorzos, said the island was prepared for seismic activity that “may last many weeks”.
The Greek island of Santorini is experiencing a surge in seismic activity, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.
According to local media, since Sunday, about 6,000 people have departed the island by ferry, and emergency flights are expected to depart on Tuesday.
In the last 48 hours, there have been over 300 recorded earthquakes close to the island; according to some experts, the tremors could last for weeks. While authorities have issued a warning against large indoor gatherings and closed schools for the entire week, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for composure.
Since February is outside of the busiest travel season, the majority of visitors departing from Santorini—a popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings—are locals.
Several tremors were detected early Tuesday northeast of Santorini, with magnitudes as high as 4point 7.
Emergency measures are being taken as a precaution, even though no significant damage has been reported as of yet.
At a port early on Tuesday morning, hundreds of people waited to board a ferry bound for the mainland.
“We’ve closed everything. Nobody is working right now. Before boarding the ship, an 18-year-old local told the Reuters news agency, “The entire island has emptied.”.
Approximately 2,500 to 2,700 passengers will have flown from Santorini to Athens via plane on Monday and Tuesday, in addition to the 6,000 people who have left the island by ferry since Sunday, according to Aegean Airlines.
The airline said that in response to a request from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, it had added three emergency flights to its itinerary.
Just 15,500 people live on the tiny island of Santorini. Millions of tourists visit it every year.
Santorini tour guide Kostas Sakavaras, who has been there for eighteen years, departed the island on Monday with his wife and kids.
“We thought that coming to the mainland as a precaution was a better option,” he told BBC News.
The sound had been the worst, he added, adding, “Nothing has been falling, or anything like that.”. Mr. Sakavaras, who intends to go back home when classes resume, said, “That’s the most scary part of it.”.
The island’s schools are expected to remain closed until Friday. Authorities have also advised residents to empty their swimming pools and stay away from specific parts of the island.
The island is ready for seismic activity that “may last many weeks,” according to Nikos Zorzos, the mayor of Santorini. He stated on Tuesday that the island needs to handle the situation “calmly and patiently.”.
“Plans were in place to build shelters and provide food for the population in case larger tremors emerge,” he added.
