550 Earthquakes in 3 Days on Greece's Santorini Island, Tourists Urged to Flee | WPN World People News

Greece, located at the junction of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in Europe. Over the past three days, about 550 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3 or higher have been recorded between the Aegean Sea's Santorini Island and the nearby Amorgos and Ios Islands, with one reaching a magnitude of 4.9. The atmosphere has been highly tense.

Santorini Island has a population of about 15,000 people, and the series of earthquakes have already led 9,000 people, including tourists and locals, to leave the island. Large crowds have gathered at the port waiting to board ships to leave. Flights to Athens are also fully booked, and schools on the island will be closed for a week. Greek authorities have sent emergency rescue teams to the area and are urging residents to move to safer zones. Additionally, coastal area monitoring has been intensified, with warnings to avoid areas at risk of landslides.

Seismologists estimate that the earthquake activity could continue for several more days or even weeks. In response, authorities have ordered the temporary closure of schools on nearby islands and have advised coastal residents to evacuate. Plans for emergency accommodation and food distribution are also being prepared. The last major earthquake in Santorini occurred in 1956, with a magnitude of over 7, resulting in at least 53 deaths and over 100 injuries.