Greek Civil Protection authorities announced on Saturday that schools on Santorini and nearby islands, including Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi, will remain closed until February 14 due to ongoing intense seismic activity in the region. The decision was made in coordination with local authorities and researchers analyzing the unprecedented phenomenon, which has not resulted in casualties or material damage so far.
After a relatively calm night, the region experienced seven earthquakes on Saturday morning, ranging between 4.0 and 4.9 magnitude within a single hour. According to the scientific committee convened on Saturday, more than 800 earthquakes with magnitudes above 3.0 have been recorded between Santorini and the neighboring island of Amorgos since February 1.
Efthymios Lekkas, the head of the scientific committee, expressed a more optimistic outlook on Saturday compared to previous days. Scientists have reassured the public that the current seismic activity is not linked to volcanic activity and that seismic activity within the caldera remains at a consistently low level.
The Seismology Laboratory of the University of Athens reported on Saturday that, while the region continues to experience numerous tremors around magnitude 4.0, the frequency of these events appears to be decreasing. On February 5, over 1,200 earthquakes were recorded, whereas February 6 saw approximately 90 tremors.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who visited Santorini on Friday, dismissed concerns of a catastrophic scenario for the popular tourist island. Santorini, known for its volcanic landscape and large influx of visitors, was placed under a state of emergency by Civil Protection on Thursday until March 3 to address urgent needs and manage the consequences of the seismic activity.
Amid fears of a major earthquake, more than 11,000 residents and seasonal workers left Santorini on Sunday.
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