Schools Close as Series of Earthquakes Shake Santorini

The Greek island of Santorini has been shaken by more than 200 earthquakes in four days, prompting authorities to close schools and airlines to add extra flights to help people leave the island.

The tremors, the strongest of which reached a magnitude of 4.9, have also affected Amorgos, Ios, and Anafi, where schools will remain closed until Friday. Authorities have advised residents to avoid large indoor gatherings as a precaution.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged calm, acknowledging that the country is facing “a very intense geological phenomenon.” Meanwhile, Vassilis Karastathis, director at the Institute of Geodynamics at the National Observatory of Athens, confirmed that seismic activity remains steady.

To assist with departures, Aegean Airlines added two extra flights on Monday and one on Tuesday. However, Santorini’s mayor, Nikos Zorzos, denied reports of a mass exodus, stating that most of those leaving are seasonal workers, not permanent residents.

Situated on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, Santorini is no stranger to earthquakes. Despite its seismic history, the island attracts around 3.4 million visitors annually, vastly outnumbering its 20,000 permanent residents. Authorities confirmed that the current seismic activity is due to tectonic shifts, not volcanic activity.