Santorini Schools Close as Quakes Persist, Emergency Declared

Greek authorities announced on Saturday that schools on Santorini and the neighboring islands of Anafi, Ios, and Amorgos will remain closed at least until February 14 due to persistent seismic activity in the region. This decision follows a series of earthquakes that have shaken the popular tourist destination, prompting safety measures and heightened vigilance.

The Greek government declared a state of emergency on Thursday in response to the seismic events, allowing officials to mobilize resources and implement precautionary actions. The Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry stated that the emergency status will remain in place until March 3 to adequately address the needs of residents and mitigate the consequences of the ongoing tremors, according to a report from Reuters.

While the likelihood of a major earthquake in the Santorini area appears to be diminishing, seismic activity continues to be closely monitored. Costas Papazachos, a professor of geophysics and seismology, stated on Friday that current observations indicate a decreasing probability of a stronger tremor.

“We are growing increasingly optimistic as we observe the fault segment, which now exhibits clearer characteristics following the network densification, beginning to ‘fill.’ This indicates that the likelihood of a stronger tremor is steadily diminishing, making such a scenario increasingly improbable,” Papazachos explained.

Despite this, he cautioned that mild tremors are expected to persist and did not rule out unexpected developments. However, he reassured that even a stronger tremor would likely have limited impact on the island. “The scenarios we have studied do not indicate anything significant,” he added.

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck the area on Tuesday, recorded less than 10 miles east of the island, following a separate 4.7 magnitude tremor off the island’s coast, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The latest quake, which occurred just after 3 p.m. local time, was recorded at a depth of 6.2 miles, per USGS data.

Although no injuries have been immediately reported, hundreds of people have fled the island as a precaution after several other earthquakes were recorded northeast of Santorini throughout the week. Authorities on Wednesday warned of an increased landslide risk in certain parts of the island and have taken steps to ensure public safety. Measures include shutting down schools, dispatching emergency responders, and advising residents to avoid ports and indoor gatherings.

Particular attention has been drawn to the island’s cable car area, located on the slopes of the caldera above Santorini’s old port. Following an inspection, Efthymis Lekkas, president of the Hellenic Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), along with officials from the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (EAGME), emphasized the need for improvements to enhance protection against landslides.

As seismic activity continues to unfold, Greek authorities remain vigilant, urging residents and tourists to adhere to safety guidelines while monitoring the evolving situation closely.