Visiting Santorini? How Do The Earthquakes Affect Travelers?

With multiple earthquakes rattling the popular Greek island of Santorini, residents and travelers are advised to avoid large indoor gatherings and areas where rock slides could occur. Meanwhile, authorities have dispatched rescuers with tents, drones and sniffer dogs, and have shut schools on four islands.

Earthquakes rattle Santorini, Greece

Santorini and several nearby Aegean Sea islands – all popular summer vacation spots – have taken precautions to keep residents and visitors safe. More than 200 undersea earthquakes have been recorded in the area during the past three days.

Authorities are quick to respond to the earthquakes while stressing that the new measures are precautionary. During an emergency government meeting in Athens, Civil Protection Minister, Vasilis Kikilias announced on Sunday:

These measures are precautionary, and authorities will remain vigilant. We urge citizens to strictly adhere to safety recommendations to minimize risk.

Responses to the earthquakes

As the earthquakes started shaking up the island, thousands of residents, tourists and seasonal workers left the Cycladic Islands, as hundreds of quakes, measuring up to magnitude 5, were recorded over the weekend. Commercial flight and ferry operators have added services to accommodate departures.

The following outlines the current situation on Santorini and nearby islands:

While experts say the earthquakes, many with magnitudes over 4.5, are not linked to Santorini’s volcano. However, they do admit that the pattern of seismic activity is a cause for concern. Meanwhile, residents are worried about the frequency of the quakes, which continued through Sunday night and into Monday.

Euronews quotes resident Michalis Gerontakis, the director of the Santorini Philharmonic Orchestra, as saying:

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.

Government officials and scientists met over the weekend and on Monday to assess the situation. Meanwhile, schools were ordered closed on the nearby islands of Anafi, Amorgos and Ios, and hotels were told to drain swimming pools during the tremors over fears that large volumes of water could destabilize buildings.

Residents and tourists on Santorini have been urged to avoid large indoor gatherings, older buildings, and areas where rock slides could occur. Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Santorini and the neighboring island of Amorgos. In the advice, they reiterated the advice from the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection. The travel update reads:

The Greek ministry advises people to avoid the ports of Amoudi, Armeni, Korfos and Old Port (Paleos Limenas) in the area of Fira and to choose safe routes when travelling, particularly in areas where the landslide risk is high.

In case of a strong tremor, people should immediately depart coastal areas. If you are in the affected areas, you should follow the advice of the local authorities.

Santorini is a popular tourist destination with daily flights, cruise ships and ferries visiting the island.