State of Emergency Declared in Santorini Following Earthquake Swarm

Greece’s government has issued a state of emergency for Santorini due to a surge in seismic activity, culminating in a 5.2 magnitude earthquake. This situation has prompted mass evacuations and the mobilization of emergency services. While there has been minimal damage reported, local schools are closed and public events canceled.

Greece has declared a state of emergency for the island of Santorini due to increased seismic activity. This decision follows a series of undersea tremors extending over nearly a week, culminating in a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, marking the strongest tremor since activity began on January 31. The Ministry of Civil Protection announced this move to facilitate quicker access to state resources for the island.

Santorini, a popular tourist destination, lies at the junction of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of Europe’s most seismically active areas. It is historically significant as the site of a massive volcanic eruption around 1600 BC, although there has not been an eruption since 1950. The current seismic activity, however, is stated to be unrelated to any volcanic eruption in the Aegean Sea.

The situation remains serious with thousands evacuating to the mainland as santorini experiences minimal damage despite the seismic events. The state of emergency aims to ensure the safety and support of locals and tourists alike, as school closures and event cancellations affect daily life. Emergency services have been mobilized to manage the response to this earthquake swarm.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk