Fear grips Santorini as earthquakes strike every ten minutes and experts warn there is danger of 'a large impending event', as hundreds flee the volcanic holiday island

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  • Have YOU been impacted by the earthquakes? Email miriam.kuepper@mailonline.co.uk 

Fear has gripped Santorini as earthquakes strike the volcanic island in Greece every ten minutes.  

Hundreds of people scrambled to leave after a spike in seismic activity raised concerns about a potentially powerful earthquake, with authorities deploying emergency rescue crews to the island.

Precautions were also ordered on several nearby Aegean Sea islands – all popular summer vacation destinations – after more than 200 undersea earthquakes were recorded in the area over the past three days. 

Prominent Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos cautioned that the current earthquake sequence – displayed on live seismic maps as a growing cluster of dots between the islands of Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi – could indicate a larger impending event.

‘I have never felt anything like this and with such frequency – an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes. Everyone is anxious even if some of us hide it not to cause panic, but everyone is worried,’ said Santorini local Michalis Gerontakis.

Mobile phones on the island blared with alert warnings about the potential for rockslides, while several earthquakes caused loud rumbles. 

Authorities banned access to some seaside areas, including the island’s old port, that are in close proximity to cliffs. 

‘These measures are precautionary, and authorities will remain vigilant,’ Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias said late Sunday following an emergency government meeting in Athens. 

People wait to board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increased seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

People wait to board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increased seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

Hundreds of people fled the island by foot and vehicle, piling onto ferries to Piraeus

Hundreds of people fled the island by foot and vehicle, piling onto ferries to Piraeus

People board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

People board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

‘We urge citizens to strictly adhere to safety recommendations to minimize risk.’

While Greek experts say the quakes, which have reached magnitude 4.9 are not linked to Santorini’s volcano, they acknowledge that the pattern of seismic activity is cause for concern.

‘We have a very intense geological phenomenon to handle,’ Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said from Brussels, where he was attending a European meeting. 

‘I want to ask our islanders first and foremost to remain calm, to listen to the instructions of the Civil Protection (authority).’  

Government officials met with scientists throughout the weekend and on Monday to assess the situation, while schools were also ordered shut on the nearby islands of Amorgos, Anafi and Ios for the entire week.

The frequency of the quakes, which continued throughout Sunday night and into Monday, has worried residents and visitors.

Mr Gerontakis, who is also the director of the Santorini Philharmonic Orchestra, said people on Santorini tried not to panic.

‘We came out yesterday and performed. Despite the earthquakes, the philharmonic performed for a religious occasion,’ Gerontakis said. 

People board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

People board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

A view of the old port and of the town of Fira on Greek Island of Santorini, in the Agean Sea on February 3, 2025. Fresh overnight tremors shook Greece's top tourist island Santorini

A view of the old port and of the town of Fira on Greek Island of Santorini, in the Agean Sea on February 3, 2025. Fresh overnight tremors shook Greece’s top tourist island Santorini

Dust rises following a landslide during high seismic activity, on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 3, 2025

Dust rises following a landslide during high seismic activity, on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 3, 2025

People stand near their cars as they wait to board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

People stand near their cars as they wait to board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

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Locals flee Santorini as volcanic holiday spot is hit by hundreds of tremors, sparking landslides

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‘When you are playing, you cannot feel the quakes but there were earthquakes when we were at the church. No one can know what will happen. People can say whatever they like, but that has no value. You cannot contend with nature.’

Residents and visitors were advised to avoid large indoor gatherings and areas where rock slides could occur, while hotels were instructed to drain swimming pools to reduce potential building damage from an earthquake.

Fire service rescuers who arrived on the island on Sunday set up yellow tents as a staging area inside a basketball court next to the island’s main hospital.

‘We arrived last night, a 26-member team of rescuers and one rescue dog,’ said fire brigadier Ioannis Billias, adding that many residents, including entire families, spent the night in their cars.

Some residents and local workers headed to travel agents seeking plane or ferry tickets to leave the island.

‘We’ve had earthquakes before but never anything like this. This feels different,’ said Nadia Benomar, a Moroccan tour guide who has lived on the island for 19 years. She bought a ferry ticket Monday for the nearby island of Naxos.

‘I need to get away for a few days until things calm down,’ she said.

A queue of cars and hundreds of people formed at the island’s main port Monday afternoon to catch a ferry leaving Santorini.

A woman carries her daughter as people board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

A woman carries her daughter as people board a ferry to Piraeus, following an increase in seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 4, 2025

More than 200 undersea tremors were recorded off the coast of several Aegean Sea islands over the last few days - the largest of which measured at a magnitude of 4.9

More than 200 undersea tremors were recorded off the coast of several Aegean Sea islands over the last few days – the largest of which measured at a magnitude of 4.9

Greek firefighters set up tents  in a basketball court in response to the island's intense seismic activity

Greek firefighters set up tents  in a basketball court in response to the island’s intense seismic activity 

The island's 15,000 locals are on edge with some fleeing already and others choosing to sleep outside or in their cars

The island’s 15,000 locals are on edge with some fleeing already and others choosing to sleep outside or in their cars

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Earthquake swarm sparks evacuation plans on volcanic Greek holiday island

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Others said they were willing to take the risk. Restaurant worker Yiannis Fragiadakis had been away but said he returned to Santorini on Sunday despite the earthquakes.

‘I wasn’t afraid. I know that people are really worried and are leaving, and when I got to the port it was really busy, it was like the summer,’ Fragiadakis said. 

‘I plan to stay and hopefully the restaurant will start working (for the holiday season) in three weeks.’

South Korean tourist Soo Jin Kim, from Seoul, arrived Sunday on a family vacation.

‘We had dinner last night at the hotel and felt mild shakes about 10 times. But at midnight we felt a big one, a big shake so I checked the news report we are half-worried and half-looking to see what the situation is,’ she said, adding she didn’t plan to change her travel plans.

Crescent-shaped Santorini is a premier tourism destination with daily arrivals via commercial flights, ferries, and cruise ships. 

The island draws more than 3 million visitors annually to its whitewashed villages built along dramatic cliffs formed by a massive volcanic eruption – considered to be one of the largest in human history – more than 3,500 years ago.

That eruption, which occurred around 1620 B.C., destroyed a large part of the island, blanketed a wide area in meters (feet) of ash and is believed to have contributed to the decline of the ancient Minoan civilization, which had flourished in the region.

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Falling rocks from landslides caused by earthquake tremors on Santorini

Falling rocks from landslides caused by earthquake tremors on Santorini 

A shocking video taken on the island yesterday morning, and shared on social media, shows the coastline of Santorini shaking violently with clouds of dust billowing into the air

A shocking video taken on the island yesterday morning, and shared on social media, shows the coastline of Santorini shaking violently with clouds of dust billowing into the air

Although it is still an active volcano, the last notable eruption occurred in 1950.

Seismologist Mr Papadopoulos said a larger impending event was possible.

‘All scenarios remain open,’ Papadopoulos wrote in an online post. ‘The number of tremors has increased, magnitudes have risen, and epicenters have shifted northeast. While these are tectonic quakes, not volcanic, the risk level has escalated.’

In Santorini’s main town of Fira, local authorities designated gathering points for residents in preparation for a potential evacuation, though Mayor Nikos Zorzos emphasized the preventive nature of the measures.

‘We are obliged to make preparations. But being prepared for something does not mean it will happen,’ he said during a weekend briefing. 

‘Sometimes, the way the situation is reported, those reports may contain exaggerations… so people should stay calm.’