SANTORINI, Greece (AP) – With hundreds of earthquakes rattling the Aegean Sea, more Greek islands decided to close schools on Tuesday. This seismic activity has left Santorini's stunning views largely to a handful of resilient tourists who remain on the island. Since Friday, the Cycladic Islands, known for their picturesque landscapes, have experienced hundreds of tremors, some reaching a magnitude of 5. As a result, thousands of residents and seasonal workers have evacuated the islands, prompting ferry and commercial flight operators to increase services to facilitate their departure.
The earthquakes have resulted in cracks appearing in some older buildings, although, fortunately, no injuries have been reported thus far. On Tuesday, schools were closed on 13 islands, a significant increase from the four closures reported the day before. Santorini has also taken measures to cancel public events, limit travel to the island, and impose bans on construction in certain areas to ensure safety.
Efthimios Lekkas, the head of the state-run Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, noted that the epicenter of the earthquakes has been shifting northward away from Santorini. He reassured the public that there is no connection between this seismic activity and the area's dormant volcanoes. Lekkas elaborated, "This may last several days or several weeks. We are not able to predict the evolution of the sequence in time," while addressing concerns on state-run television.
Fira, the main town of Santorini, typically bustling with tourists, was eerily deserted on Tuesday, a rare sight even during the off season. Nevertheless, small groups of tourists, particularly from Asian countries, were spotted navigating the narrow, whitewashed streets perched along the island’s cliff tops. Joseph Liu, a visitor from Guangzhou, China, shared his excitement about finally visiting Santorini after seeing it featured in a documentary. He expressed, "This place is amazing, really beautiful. Just like I saw in the program: the mystery, the scenery." Liu mentioned that his tour group leader had informed them about the earthquakes prior to their arrival, easing their concerns.
Among the island's long-time residents is Panagiotis Hatzigeorgiou, a retired police officer and ship worker who has lived on Santorini for over 30 years. Despite being offered refuge with relatives in Athens, Hatzigeorgiou opted to stay, saying, "Older residents are used to the earthquakes… But it’s different this time. It’s not the same to have earthquakes every 2-3 minutes. The main thing is not to worry," he added humorously, "Now we can listen to music alone and have coffee by ourselves."
In response to the situation, government officials in Athens have been conducting daily high-level planning and assessment meetings, receiving briefings from island officials to stay updated on the developments in the Aegean region.
