Catastrophe on Santorino: Earthquakes are driving tourists to escape!

Catastrophe on Santorino: Earthquakes are driving tourists to escape!

The Greek island of Santorinin has been shaken by numerous earthquakes for weeks, which has led to the evacuation of over two thirds of the 16,000 inhabitants and most tourists. On February 12, 2025, a strong quake of strength 5 occurred, followed by another 20 earthquakes on the night of February 13th. These earthquake activities have caused the Greek government to call the emergency for Santorin and the neighboring island of Amorgos to enable faster aid measures and evacuation plans, reports Ostsee Zeitung.

The previous seismic activities show that over 14,000 earth strikes have been registered since January 24th. The strongest previous quake had a magnitude of 5.3 on February 10th. Seismologists warn that a main quake could possibly achieve a thickness of 6 or more, which could result in serious damage and the risk of tsunamis. The situation remains tense, since experts from possible landslide go out in coastal areas and assess volcanic activity as low.

evacuation measures and travel instructions

As a result of the ongoing earthquake, the Greek government has announced the emergency for initially for 30 days, which can be extended if the seismic activity continues. Interior Minister and Local Authorities have taken additional measures to protect the infrastructure and protect the population. The military is ready to support possible evacuations. Emergency tents have been set up, and gathering for evacuations are available in the capital Fira, reports vacation check24.

The travel industry is also affected: the tour operator Derieben will not accept any bookings for Santorino until the end of February, while Tui is planning to offer trips again from Easter. At the moment there are only about 1,600 tourists on the island that are concerned about their security. Cruise ships, such as the "Viking Star", have changed their routes and do not control the island.

travel information and safety precautions

The German Foreign Office has updated its travel instructions and advises travelers to regularly find out about the situation and to follow the local authorities. Although there are currently no official evacuation recommendations, increased precautions are recommended. Travelers who want to travel to Santorinin should be prepared for short -term changes and inform their accommodations about their accessibility in an emergency.

Greece is known for its seismic activity, which is caused by the plate tectonic movements on the Hellenic subduction zone and the columbo volcano on Santorin. Although the country has more earthquakes a year than any other European country, most of them are of small magnitude and hardly cause any damage. Nevertheless, the residents remain on alert, especially older people who remember the severe earthquake of 1956.

travelers should ensure that they are informed about the current events and that in the event of an earthquake or a risk of tsunami take appropriate security precautions to flee to higher areas, as is recommended at Greec moments. While the airports and ferries continue to operate on schedule, it is important to follow the developments carefully.