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| Santorini to shut schools as tremors rattle island | Santorini to shut schools as tremors rattle island |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Schools on the Greek island of Santorini have been told to close on Monday in response to an increase in seismic activity in recent days. | |
| Authorities have also advised against "large gatherings in enclosed spaces" across the island - a popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches. | Authorities have also advised against "large gatherings in enclosed spaces" across the island - a popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches. |
| tremors of up to 4.6 in magnitude, external have been recorded over the last couple of days - with quakes of 4.3 and 3.9 magnitude reported nearby on Sunday. | |
| Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of volcanic islands created by plate tectonics - but the last major eruption was in 1950. | |
| Greek authorities said that the recent minor earthquares were related to tectonic plate movements instead of volcanic activity, and that activity in the Santorini caldera - the volcanic basin the island sits around - remains in decline. | |
| The tremors recorded by geologists are considered minor or light, but authorities have recommended a number of preventative measures in addition to the school closures, including to avoiding the ports of Ammoudi and Fira. | |
| Big cruise ships often anchor near the Old Port of Fira, with passengers being brought to shore on smaller boats. | Big cruise ships often anchor near the Old Port of Fira, with passengers being brought to shore on smaller boats. |
| Schools were also told to close on the nearby islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos. | |
| People were advised to avoid abandoned buildings and travelling on routes where landslides are likely to occur. | |
| While the recent tremors are thought to be unlikely to be a precursor to an eruption, the possibility of a stronger eruption cannot be ruled out. | |
| Kostas Papazachos, a professor of geophysics at Thessaloniki Aristotle University, told public broadcaster ERT that the precautionary measures were "precisely to limit the impact of a stronger earthquake". | |
| He added: "When you have a sequence next to you that is so vivid, so intense, you have to be a bit careful, precisely because there is always the risk of something like that happening." | |
| Prof Papazachos said that were a minor earthquake occur while people were gathered in large crowds, it could create panic that may lead to people being injured. | |
| The South Aegean Regional Fire Department has been placed on general alert and rescue teams as well as the regional commander have been dispatched to Santorini. | |
| Though the island has a population of around 15,500, it welcomes millions of tourists each year. The UK Foreign Office updated its advice to British tourists on Sunday reiterating the recent measures. | |
| One of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, around 1600BC, created the island in its current crescent-shaped form - though there is evidence of human settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. | |
| The island has been struck by several eruptions since, the most devastating occurring in 1956, killing at least 56 people. |