Hundreds of people are leaving Greece’s Santorini island due to continuous tremors that have been shaking the popular tourist destination for six days. About 10,000 individuals have already left the island, with hundreds of small earthquakes being recorded in the surrounding sea, causing fear of a major earthquake. The island’s population swells during summer, but off-season, a few thousand people are likely still on the island. Safety measures have been implemented, including halting construction and shutting schools on Santorini and nearby islands. Authorities have restricted access to high-risk areas and are on high alert for landslides and emergency situations. The Greek Prime Minister stated that the state is fully prepared for any possibility that may arise. Seismologists believe the heightened seismic activity may continue for days or weeks, although the shaking was reported to have lessened on Wednesday. Greece is prone to earthquakes due to its location at the boundary of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. The last significant volcanic eruption in Santorini occurred in 1950, shaping the island’s current landscape. Despite the ongoing tremors, some residents are choosing to stay on the island, while others are leaving due to the easier circumstances during the off-season.
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