Greece declares state of emergency in Santorini amid seismic activity
A view of the old port and the town of Fira on the Greek Island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea, captured on February 4, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Greece declared a state of emergency Thursday for the island of Santorini, following ongoing seismic activity in the southern Aegean Sea since Feb. 1.
The Greece’s Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection announced that the state of emergency will remain in place until March 3.
Seismic activity continues in the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos, maintaining the same frequency as recent days, according to public broadcaster ERT. Several areas of Santorini have been cordoned off due to the risk of landslides.
A team of engineers from Athens has arrived on the island to assess public buildings and schools, ERT reported.
Many minor earthquakes expected
In a related development, Efthymios Lekkas, a leading geologist, said the likelihood of a major earthquake exceeding 6.0 on the Richter scale is decreasing.
However, he added, “The most likely scenario is for seismic activity to continue for several days or weeks at the same pace, with many minor earthquakes.”
Meanwhile, Yildiz Technical University (YTU) geology expert Professor Sukru Ersoy suggested that Türkiye‘s coastal cities will be severely affected if a volcanic eruption on Santorini Island occurs.
At least 780 tremors have hit the Aegean Sea since Jan. 28, and 4,600 people have left the island by ferry since Sunday.
In addition, 1,300 passengers left the island by air. Due to intense seismic activity in and around the island, a volcanic eruption is feared in the region.
