by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Mon February 3, 2025
The popular Greek isle of Santorini and several neighboring islands have been preparing for an earthquake after experiencing four days of tremors, adding flights off the island, closing schools and deploying disaster response units as precautionary measures.
According to Reuters, the island, along with neighboring Amorgos, Ios and Anafi, have been experiencing tremors every few minutes since Friday, January 31, some reaching a magnitude of over 4 on the Richter scale.
Local airline Aegean Airlines added three additional daily flights after a request by Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry for anyone who would like to leave the island, including visitors.
"We estimate it (the activity) will continue for some days and there could be a lengthy seismic sequence," Efthymios Lekkas, a professor of tectonic geology and disaster management, told Greek television, as was reported by Reuters.
The Associated Press reported that several at-risk areas, including Santorini’s old port area, are closed to everyone as a precaution due to their close proximity to cliffs. Greek officials do not believe the seismic activity is connected to Santorini’s volcano.
The U.S. State Department has issued an alert about the seismic activity, asking American travelers in the region to exercise caution, depart coastal areas when there is a tremor and to avoid regions where landslides may be common. The Department also urges travelers to be aware of Greek media alerts and safety warnings, and to comply accordingly.
Santorini’s iconic crescent shape was created by a volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE. Its last volcanic eruption was in 1950, but the island experiences earthquakes and tremors regularly.
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