Several more earthquakes have hit the waters off the Greek island of Santorini just hours after authorities there declared a state of emergency, Greek media reported on Friday.
The emergency measures were declared by the island’s mayor’s office hours after a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the island. It is the strongest tremor felt on Santorini since the first of about 7,700 tremors recorded last week.
Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said additional forces – firefighters, police, coast guard, as well as military and medics – had been sent to Santorini. Schools on the island were also closed and residents were advised to avoid harbours and large crowds indoors.
The measures, under which the army is expected to take a more active role in crisis management, will remain in place until March 3, when Orthodox Christians mark the start of Lent.
While experts say the geological phenomenon, which could last for weeks, exhausted locals continue to flee the island, likening the exodus to an “unofficial mass evacuation.”
Some 11,000 people are estimated to have left the island, which attracts more than 3.4 million tourists annually. Greek authorities have organised extra flights to evacuate people to the mainland, although strong winds on February 5 temporarily complicated the situation by suspending ferry services.
The last major earthquake on Santorini with a magnitude of 7.5 occurred in 1956, killing more than 50 people and causing significant damage. In this regard, the authorities and residents of the island remain vigilant and prepare for a possible worsening of the situation.
