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| Santorini on alert as tremors rattle Greek island | Santorini on alert as tremors rattle Greek island |
| (about 13 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. | 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 4.9 in magnitude, external were recorded north-east of the island on Monday, while recent days have seen quakes of 4.3 and 3.9 magnitude reported nearby. | |
| 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, 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 asking ships to avoid the ports of Ammoudi and Fira. | 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 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. | Schools were also told to close on the nearby islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos. |
| More than 200 earthquakes were recorded across Greek islands in the past 48 hours, according to the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory. | |
| On Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitostakis chaired an emergency meeting at Maximos Palace with the head of Greece's earthquake planning and protection organisation (OSAP), Efthimios Lekkas, and the minister of civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias. | |
| Following the meeting to discuss the continuous earthquakes in the area between Santorini and Amorgos, Kikilias said the government remains alert and asked the people in affected islands to follow instructions issued by the authorities. | |
| People were advised to avoid abandoned buildings and travelling on routes where landslides are likely to occur. | 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. | 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". | 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." | 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 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. |
| 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 and instructing visitors to follow guidance from local officials. | |