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| Santorini shuts schools as tremors rattle Greek island | |
| (7 days later) | |
| Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged people on the island of Santorini to "stay calm" after an increase in seismic activity. | Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged people on the island of Santorini to "stay calm" after an increase in seismic activity. |
| His remarks come as schools were told to close on Monday and authorities advised against large gatherings in enclosed spaces across the island, a popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches. | His remarks come as schools were told to close on Monday and authorities advised against large gatherings in enclosed spaces across the island, a popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches. |
| More than 280 earthquakes were recorded across Greek islands in the past 48 hours, according to the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory. | More than 280 earthquakes were recorded across Greek islands in the past 48 hours, according to the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory. |
| Tremors of up to 4.9 in magnitude were recorded north-east of Santorini on Monday, while there have been quakes of 4.3 and 3.9 magnitude reported nearby in recent days. | |
| Speaking from EU talks in Brussels, the prime minister said the country is working to manage "a very intense geological phenomenon", adding that he has asked the authorities to provide a "comprehensive presentation" of the geological data, to ensure everyone knows the scale of this seismic event. | Speaking from EU talks in Brussels, the prime minister said the country is working to manage "a very intense geological phenomenon", adding that he has asked the authorities to provide a "comprehensive presentation" of the geological data, to ensure everyone knows the scale of this seismic event. |
| Mitsotakis's remarks come as many people in Santorini spent Sunday night outdoors, amid fears of potential damage to buildings during the quakes. | Mitsotakis's remarks come as many people in Santorini spent Sunday night outdoors, amid fears of potential damage to buildings during the quakes. |
| Some focal points of the tremors have been recorded at a depth of just 2km (1.2miles) below the surface. | Some focal points of the tremors have been recorded at a depth of just 2km (1.2miles) below the surface. |
| Some residents have chosen to leave the island while the seismic activity is ongoing, including Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived there for 18 years, and his wife and children. | Some residents have chosen to leave the island while the seismic activity is ongoing, including Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived there for 18 years, and his wife and children. |
| "We decided yesterday to take the ferry and come to the mainland," he told BBC News. | "We decided yesterday to take the ferry and come to the mainland," he told BBC News. |
| "We stayed calm. It's not such a big deal. It was more like, the schools were closed. We considered it's a better choice to come to the mainland as a precaution." | "We stayed calm. It's not such a big deal. It was more like, the schools were closed. We considered it's a better choice to come to the mainland as a precaution." |
| He said they were keeping in touch with friends and family who had remained, and that the tremors had been "mild". | He said they were keeping in touch with friends and family who had remained, and that the tremors had been "mild". |
| "Nothing has been falling, or anything like that," he said, adding that the worst part had been the sound. | "Nothing has been falling, or anything like that," he said, adding that the worst part had been the sound. |
| "That's the most scary part of it," said Mr Sakavaras, who plans to return home once schools reopen. | "That's the most scary part of it," said Mr Sakavaras, who plans to return home once schools reopen. |
| 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 the 1950s. | 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 the 1950s. |
| Greek authorities said that the recent minor earthquakes were related to tectonic plate movements instead of volcanic activity. | Greek authorities said that the recent minor earthquakes were related to tectonic plate movements instead of volcanic activity. |
| The tremors are being caused by the Aegean sea plate subducting beneath the African plate, causing resistance and friction to build up along the fault line. | The tremors are being caused by the Aegean sea plate subducting beneath the African plate, causing resistance and friction to build up along the fault line. |
| When the plate shifts, energy is released in the form of an earthquake. | When the plate shifts, energy is released in the form of an earthquake. |
| Earthquakes are very common in this region, but authorities say activity in the Santorini caldera - the volcanic basin the island sits around - remains in decline. | Earthquakes are very common in this region, but authorities say activity in the Santorini caldera - the volcanic basin the island sits around - remains in decline. |
| While the recent tremors are thought to be unlikely to be a precursor to a volcanic eruption, the possibility cannot be ruled out. | While the recent tremors are thought to be unlikely to be a precursor to a volcanic eruption, the possibility cannot be ruled out. |
| The tremors recorded by geologists are considered minor, but authorities have recommended a number of preventative measures in addition to the school closures, including asking ships to avoid the ports of Ammoudi and Fira. | The tremors recorded by geologists are considered minor, but authorities have recommended a number of preventative measures in addition to the school closures, including asking ships to avoid 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, and will remain so until 7 February. | Schools were also told to close on the nearby islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, and will remain so until 7 February. |
| On Monday, a message from the emergency services was sent to the residents of Santorini, urging them to leave the areas of Ammoudi, Armeni and the Old Port of Fira due to landslides. | On Monday, a message from the emergency services was sent to the residents of Santorini, urging them to leave the areas of Ammoudi, Armeni and the Old Port of Fira due to landslides. |
| According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a total of over 555 earthquakes have been recorded since January 28 in the area between Amorgos and Santorini. | According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a total of over 555 earthquakes have been recorded since January 28 in the area between Amorgos and Santorini. |
| 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", as quakes cannot be predicted. | 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", as quakes cannot be predicted. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Earthquakes are measured on the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw) - instead of the better-known Richter scale, which is now considered less accurate. The number attributed to an earthquake represents a combination of the distance a fault line has moved and the force that moved it. | Earthquakes are measured on the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw) - instead of the better-known Richter scale, which is now considered less accurate. The number attributed to an earthquake represents a combination of the distance a fault line has moved and the force that moved it. |
| A tremor of 2.5 or less usually cannot be felt, but can be detected by instruments. Quakes of up to five are felt and cause minor damage. | A tremor of 2.5 or less usually cannot be felt, but can be detected by instruments. Quakes of up to five are felt and cause minor damage. |
| Prof Papazachos said that were a minor earthquake to occur while people were gathered in large crowds, it could create panic that may lead to people being injured. | Prof Papazachos said that were a minor earthquake to 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. | 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. |
| Various airlines have added extra flights as people rush to leave the island, and more ferries have also been deployed. Hotel owners are reporting a series of cancellations in their bookings, as tourists are avoiding the island. | Various airlines have added extra flights as people rush to leave the island, and more ferries have also been deployed. Hotel owners are reporting a series of cancellations in their bookings, as tourists are avoiding the island. |
| Though the island has a population of around 15,500, it welcomes millions of tourists each year. | Though the island has a population of around 15,500, it welcomes millions of tourists each year. |