Santorini: Greek civil protection authorities have declared a state of emergency on Santorini following an increase in seismic activity that has alarmed experts and residents alike.
The emergency measures were enforced by the island’s town hall shortly after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck—the most powerful tremor recorded since an estimated 7,700 quakes were first detected last week.
The measures, which will remain in place until 3 March, grant the military a larger role in crisis management as Greece prepares for the beginning of Lent.
“It’s what we need to deal with this situation, and we requested that it be enforced,” said Santorini’s mayor, Nikos Zorzos.
With experts warning that the geological phenomenon could persist for weeks, weary residents have continued to leave the island in large numbers, describing the exodus as an “unofficial mass evacuation.” More than 12,000 people have fled Santorini by boat and plane since the tremors intensified over the weekend, leaving few tourists behind.
By Thursday,6Tth of February, the island’s main hilltop settlement—a top tourist attraction that drew 3.5 million visitors last year—was nearly deserted. Shops were closed, and narrow streets were blocked by police over concerns about potential rockslides.
As a sign of the crisis’s severity, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to visit Santorini on Friday in what officials describe as a “show of solidarity.” Meanwhile, emergency services are being reinforced, with ferries bringing in generators and authorities deploying social workers and psychologists to assist residents.
Seismologists remain divided on the significance of Wednesday night’s 5.2-magnitude quake. Some experts believe it could be a precursor to a much stronger tremor that might trigger a tsunami, while others suggest the seismic activity is beginning to subside.
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