Earthquake on Santorini: emergency and evacuation - what now?

Earthquake on Santorini: emergency and evacuation - what now?

Santorini, Griechenland - The Greek island of Santorini has been the focus of attention due to a series of earthquakes for two weeks. On Monday, February 10th, a strong quake with a magnitude of 5.3 was registered, which led to a dramatic situation on the island. In response to the repeated seismic activities, the Greek government has proclaimed an emergency that enables faster mobilization of state resources. This step was officially announced on Thursday, February 6th and includes support from the fire brigade, police, coast guard and medical services, as the Civil Protection Ministry reported.

The situation on Santorini is tense, because according to KN-Online.de already have more than 10,000 people Leave the island. Among them are many locals and tourists who are concerned about the possibility of other earthquakes. On Monday evening there were even over 120 seismic activities within 24 hours, which corresponds to an average of five quakes per hour. Citizens are called to avoid coastal areas because landslides and tsunamis cannot be excluded.

numerous evacuations and restrictions

Over two thirds of the approximately 16,000 inhabitants left the island. However, some residents have no choice but to stay there to protect their houses and shops. The mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, explained that the seismic activities could possibly last for many weeks. In the capital Fira, collection points for the upcoming evacuation were set up, and emergency tents were built in various parts of the island.

School education on Santorini is also affected because the schools remain closed due to the current situation. The Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis confirmed that the emergency services are in full swing to ensure the safety of the residents and remaining visitors. So far, the earthquakes have hardly caused any significant damage, but persistent quake could change this quickly.

travel instructions for tourists

There are important information for the remaining tourists. It is strongly recommended to avoid large crowds and abandoned buildings. Travelers should register on the crisis list of the Federal Foreign Office and activate emergency warnings on their smartphones. Flat -rate travelers have the right to abort and partially reimbursement in the event of a disaster; In particular, the travel provider DERTOUR has temporarily not accepted any bookings for Santorini by the end of February.

Tourism on the island, which attracts over three million visitors annually, also suffers from the crisis. Currently there are only about 1,600 tourists on Santorini. However, TUI plans to offer trips again from Easter, while cruise ships have to adjust their routes. For example, the “Viking Star” Santorini did not hit.

according to Welt.de there is still a risk of greater earthquake, and experts also warn of activating an submarine volcano. The currently identified seismic activity has been the highest since 1964. Scientists have so far not been able to give an all -clear, which leads to uncertainty and concern among the citizens and visitors of the island.