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| Santorini earthquakes: State of emergency declaration after days of tremors | |
| (4 days later) | |
| A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Santorini after days of consecutive earthquakes. | A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Santorini after days of consecutive earthquakes. |
| It comes after a magnitude 5.2 tremor was recorded at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT) on Wednesday between the Greek islands of Amorgos and Santorini, making it the strongest in recent days. It is estimated to have occurred at a depth of 5km (3.1 miles). | It comes after a magnitude 5.2 tremor was recorded at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT) on Wednesday between the Greek islands of Amorgos and Santorini, making it the strongest in recent days. It is estimated to have occurred at a depth of 5km (3.1 miles). |
| The decree will be in effect until 3 March to "address the emergency needs and manage the consequences", officials said. | The decree will be in effect until 3 March to "address the emergency needs and manage the consequences", officials said. |
| More than 11,000 people have already left Santorini, with around 7,000 departing by ferry and 4,000 by air. | More than 11,000 people have already left Santorini, with around 7,000 departing by ferry and 4,000 by air. |
| A 4.7 magnitude quake was also recorded south-west of Amorgos at 07:50 local time on Thursday, following 57 tremors between midnight and 06:30. | A 4.7 magnitude quake was also recorded south-west of Amorgos at 07:50 local time on Thursday, following 57 tremors between midnight and 06:30. |
| Magnitude refers to the size of an earthquake, with increases marked as decimal points. A magnitude 6.0 and above is considered severe, where as a magnitude 5.2, the strongest experienced so far in the region, is considered moderate. | Magnitude refers to the size of an earthquake, with increases marked as decimal points. A magnitude 6.0 and above is considered severe, where as a magnitude 5.2, the strongest experienced so far in the region, is considered moderate. |
| So far no major damage has been reported on the island, but authorities are preparing in case a larger quake hits. | So far no major damage has been reported on the island, but authorities are preparing in case a larger quake hits. |
| Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit Santorini on Friday. | Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit Santorini on Friday. |
| Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute, told Greek state-owned broadcaster ERT News that "seismicity continues at the same pace as in previous days, intense". | Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute, told Greek state-owned broadcaster ERT News that "seismicity continues at the same pace as in previous days, intense". |
| "We have a fairly high number of earthquakes with magnitudes above 4," he said. | "We have a fairly high number of earthquakes with magnitudes above 4," he said. |
| "We are still in the middle of the road. We have not seen any thinning, any sign that it is heading towards retreat." | "We are still in the middle of the road. We have not seen any thinning, any sign that it is heading towards retreat." |
| Santorini welcomes millions of tourists annually, but it is currently low season, meaning local residents and workers make up the majority of evacuees. | Santorini welcomes millions of tourists annually, but it is currently low season, meaning local residents and workers make up the majority of evacuees. |
| Due to the state of emergency, repairs to things like public roads and ports can skip usual bureaucratic requirements and begin immediately. | Due to the state of emergency, repairs to things like public roads and ports can skip usual bureaucratic requirements and begin immediately. |
| "We are in a particularly uncertain stage, where we cannot accurately determine the duration of the seismic swarm nor its exact origin," Costas Synolakis, a professor of natural disasters, told ERTNews. | "We are in a particularly uncertain stage, where we cannot accurately determine the duration of the seismic swarm nor its exact origin," Costas Synolakis, a professor of natural disasters, told ERTNews. |
| He said it is necessary to remain prepared for the possibility of a larger earthquake and a "volcanic crisis" like the one in Santorini. | He said it is necessary to remain prepared for the possibility of a larger earthquake and a "volcanic crisis" like the one in Santorini. |
| To cope with this, extra generators have arrived and a backup telecommunications station is being set up at Santorini City Hall. | To cope with this, extra generators have arrived and a backup telecommunications station is being set up at Santorini City Hall. |
| Islanders also fear of a tsunami, with makeshift defences built from sacks along Monolithos beach in Santorini, where the buildings are very close to the sea. | Islanders also fear of a tsunami, with makeshift defences built from sacks along Monolithos beach in Santorini, where the buildings are very close to the sea. |
| All hospital employees are on standby to help those who have remained on the island with all leave and days off cancelled. | All hospital employees are on standby to help those who have remained on the island with all leave and days off cancelled. |
| Additional ambulance crews, police officers, soldiers and military vehicles have also arrived in Santorini, with medical personnel sent from Naxos, another island. | Additional ambulance crews, police officers, soldiers and military vehicles have also arrived in Santorini, with medical personnel sent from Naxos, another island. |
| Vassilis Kikilias, the climate and civil protection minister, said units of firefighters trained in natural disasters were being despatched to Santorini. | Vassilis Kikilias, the climate and civil protection minister, said units of firefighters trained in natural disasters were being despatched to Santorini. |
| Teams with special dogs and a mobile operations centre have also been sent to the island, while helicopters are on standby. | Teams with special dogs and a mobile operations centre have also been sent to the island, while helicopters are on standby. |
| Kikilias also said the coast guard and armed forces would be available to assist vulnerable people who wish to evacuate. | Kikilias also said the coast guard and armed forces would be available to assist vulnerable people who wish to evacuate. |
| Poor weather means the ferry from Santorini to Piraeus port near Athens is not operating. The adverse conditions are expected to continue over the coming days. | Poor weather means the ferry from Santorini to Piraeus port near Athens is not operating. The adverse conditions are expected to continue over the coming days. |
| Many travellers remain at Santorini's port to board emergency ferry routes that have been set up. | Many travellers remain at Santorini's port to board emergency ferry routes that have been set up. |
| Schools on Santorini - and other neighbouring islands including Anafi, Paros, Naxos and Mykonos - will remain closed until Friday, when authorities will make a decision about when they can re-open. | Schools on Santorini - and other neighbouring islands including Anafi, Paros, Naxos and Mykonos - will remain closed until Friday, when authorities will make a decision about when they can re-open. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had struck an optimistic tone at a meeting of civil protection experts. | Earlier on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had struck an optimistic tone at a meeting of civil protection experts. |
| "All plans have been implemented. Forces have been moved to Santorini and the other islands, so that we are ready for any eventuality," he said. | "All plans have been implemented. Forces have been moved to Santorini and the other islands, so that we are ready for any eventuality," he said. |
| He asked the islanders to "stay calm and cooperate with the authorities". | He asked the islanders to "stay calm and cooperate with the authorities". |
| The Thira Chamber of Commerce earlier called for business on the island to be suspended and emergency support measures be taken in line with those during Covid-19. | The Thira Chamber of Commerce earlier called for business on the island to be suspended and emergency support measures be taken in line with those during Covid-19. |
| Watch: "We can't take it anymore" - people evacuate Santorini after days of tremors | Watch: "We can't take it anymore" - people evacuate Santorini after days of tremors |
| Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of islands created by volcanoes - but the last major eruption was in the 1950s. | Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of islands created by volcanoes - but the last major eruption was in the 1950s. |
| Greek authorities have said the recent tremors were related to tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity. | Greek authorities have said the recent tremors were related to tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity. |
| Scientists cannot predict the exact timing, size or location of earthquakes. | Scientists cannot predict the exact timing, size or location of earthquakes. |
| But there are areas of the world where they are more likely to occur, which helps governments prepare. | But there are areas of the world where they are more likely to occur, which helps governments prepare. |
| Earthquakes are the result of movement of tectonic plates in the earth's crust. Sometimes these plates lock together when they meet, which is called a plate boundary or a fault line. | Earthquakes are the result of movement of tectonic plates in the earth's crust. Sometimes these plates lock together when they meet, which is called a plate boundary or a fault line. |
| Santorini and the other Greek Islands are near such a line. | Santorini and the other Greek Islands are near such a line. |
| Have you been affected by the earthquake? Get in touch. | Have you been affected by the earthquake? Get in touch. |