The tremors were felt in Athens on Monday evening and measured a focal depth of 17km (10.6 miles).

Residents of the neighbouring island Amorgos remain on high alert after the latest tremor, which followed a moderate 5.0 magnitude earthquake between the islands on Sunday evening.

The tourist hotspot has been rocked by seismic activity since January and more than 12,800 quakes have been detected by the University of Athens’ Seismological Laboratory.

Some residents have been seen patrolling dangerous areas to deter tourists from taking photos on cliffs.

Landslides have occurred in many parts of Santorini due to the frequency and intensity of the tremors and experts have not ruled out a major earthquake.

Seismologists were optimistic about the intensity of the quakes starting to subside, but are now concerned they are worsening.

A state of emergency will remain in place on Santorini until at least 3 March.

Sunday’s quake was preceded by three smaller ones of more than 4.0 magnitude, while the three on Monday morning were also more than 4.0.

Inspections found no damage to buildings in Santorini or Amorgos.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the earthquakes, which have numbered in the thousands since 26 January, but more than 11,000 people have left the islands.

Schools will remain closed on Santorini, Amorgos and several other islands on Monday and Tuesday.

A team of the Special Disaster Response Unit has set off for Amorgos from Patras with a special earthquake rescue vehicle, and technical teams are expected to inspect the electricity network on the island.

Kostas Papazachos, a professor of seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, told Greek broadcaster ERT that the authorities had to allow for the situation to continue for most or all of February.

“Let’s hope that we will slowly move towards a gradual de-escalation,” he said.

“We will have to be a little patient and see. Let’s hope that after a couple of weeks the phenomenon will start to subside.”

He said the possibility of a major earthquake had not been completely ruled out.

Meanwhile the cruise ship Viking Star, with 893 passengers and 470 crew, docked at the port of Souda in Crete early on Monday morning.

It was due to be the first cruise ship of the season in Santorini. The ship changed its route mainly to avoid cable car overcrowding in Santorini during the seismic activity.

The previous strongest quake since the activity started was a 5.2 magnitude on Thursday. Six and above is considered severe.

Greece is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries, but scientists are puzzled by the current “clusters” of quakes which have not been linked to a major shock.

Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, which is 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.

Scientists cannot predict the exact timing, size or location of earthquakes.

From 26 January to 8 February 2025, the Seismology Laboratory (SL) of the University of Athens registered more than 12,800 earthquakes in the Santorini-Amorgos zone.

“I remember our dog and bird acting strangely. Then, the earthquake struck,” 83-year-old Eirini Mindrinou recalls, her voice steady but distant, as if trying to grasp a memory that never truly faded. “The house split open before closing again. Through the crack in the roof, I could see the sky.”

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which struck between Santorini and the nearby island of Amorgos, destroyed much of the island, and a powerful aftershock 12 minutes later finished what little remained. Fifty-three people died. The island, then just a quiet fishing village, was scarred and its people fled.

It is much different today, rebuilt into one of Greece’s most coveted tourists destinations – but this week, another mass exodus unfolded. Subtle tremors that had begun in June 2024 turned into full-fledged earthquakes, some exceeding 4.0 on the Richter scale, shaking homes and unsettling the island’s residents. Families rushing to leave by air and sea, desperately seeking respite as the ground shook once again.

But not everyone is fleeing. Those that remain display the mix of courage, necessity, and a deep connection to the land that has come to define the locals of this island. They endure sleepless nights, haunted by memories of the past and the terrifying unknown of what’s yet to come.

“The noise from the earthquake, the sounds of [other people’s] homes breaking apart – it’s unbearable. Even in my house, it’s become overwhelming,” says Margarita Karamolegkou, a local businesswoman. “I’ve felt tired, day after day, with no end in sight… But I haven’t felt fear. I can’t leave my home, and I can’t leave the people who’ve stayed behind.”

This resilience is nothing new. People have have withstood both social change -about 3.4 million visited the island last year, according to Mayor Nikos Zorzos – and seismic shifts. Now, as always, they have come together in solidarity.

“We’re doing our best to support the vulnerable,” says Matthaios Fytros, a local volunteer and merchant. “People with disabilities, the elderly – many struggle to get around, and their homes are hard to reach. If a major earthquake hits, I know exactly where they live, and I’ll get to them as fast as I can, alongside the firefighters.”

Matthaios and others patrol the island, ensuring abandoned properties aren’t looted and helping anyone in need. “I’m not afraid,” he says with quiet conviction. “We’re proud of our island. I just hope everything works out and that this ordeal ends soon. We’ll be happy to have our visitors back with us.”

The response of the state has been swift, with measures taken to address the crisis. Beneath the gratitude for the government’s intervention, however, lingers a quiet bitterness. Many islanders recall the years when their cries for better infrastructure and support went unheard.

“For years, we’ve been asking for a better port, something to help us manage the growing number of tourists,” Margarita says, her voice tinged with frustration. “We need help preserving the island’s identity – its unique environment, the seismic and volcanic forces that shape it. We’re grateful for the tourists, but we also need to protect what makes Santorini special.”

Tourism has become the lifeblood of Santorini’s economy. The island contributes around 2.5% to Greece’s GDP, approximately 5.9 billion euros (£4.9 billion) each year.

As the tremors continue, the future of Santorini’s economy remains uncertain. Will its prosperity withstand the shaking ground? The people of Santorini worry that the island’s fragility may soon extend beyond the land itself.

“I regret how haphazard the island’s development has been with the rise in tourism,” says Eirini, who is temporarily in Athens, not out of fear, but for routine medical tests. “We’ve damaged the natural environment here. Now, with the earthquakes continuing, there’s a real risk we could lose the entire tourist season.”

Scientists may not know when the shaking will stop, but instead of succumbing to fear, some residents have chosen to understand the phenomenon, hoping that will bring them reassurance in the face of the unknown.

“I try to think of what’s happening with kindness,” Margarita says thoughtfully. “It feels like something is settling down there. Everything we admire about Santorini today – the beauty, the character – has been shaped by the volcano and its seismic forces.”

“We are the most beloved island,” says Matthaios, his voice full of pride. “And I believe we’re the most beautiful of all the islands in Greece. We will get out of this stronger.”

It comes after amagnitude 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.

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.

So far no major damage has been reported on the island, butauthorities are preparing in case a larger quake hits.

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”.

“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.”

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It comes after amagnitude 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.

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.

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, butauthorities are preparing in case a larger quake hits.

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”.

“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.”

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

According to officials, more than 11,000 people have left Santorini, with around 7,000 departing by ferry and 4,000 people leaving by air.

Hundreds of earthquakes have rocked the island, the strongest of which was a magnitude five tremor on Tuesday.

Major damage has not been reported on the island so far, however officials are taking some precautionary measures.

While authorities have closed schools and warned against large indoor gatherings, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged calm.

The head of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthymis Lekkas, told ERT – Greece’s national broadcaster – that a magnitude six or greater quake couldn’t be ruled out.

An additional 51 firefighters and nine vehicles, as well as a fire department helicopter and aerial rescuers have been brought to the island as a precaution.

Personnel have also been sent to Amorgos, Ios, Astypalaia and Anafi due to seismic activity in the Cyclades.

“In our country, we have not seen anything similar with so many earthquakes of this magnitude. On the contrary, we see an increase in frequency and magnitude,” said the Director of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, Vasilis Karastathis.

“Things are developing in a way that concerns us… we cannot reassure people,” added Mr Karastathis, speaking on ERT radio on Wednesday morning.

Schools in Santorini will remain closed until Friday, while access to Ammoudi, Armeni, Korfos Thirassias and the Old Port of Fira has been suspended. Authorities on the neighbouring islands of Mykonos, Leros, Syros, and Patmos have also closed schools until at least Friday.

Aegean Airlines said it had added nine emergency flights to its schedule following a request from the government.

People have been asked to avoid approaching abandoned buildings, choose safe routes in landslip prone areas and empty swimming pools.

Santorini welcomes millions of tourists annually, but it’s currently low season meaning local residents and workers make up the majority of evacuees.

Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived on Santorini for 18 years, left the island with his wife and children on Monday.

“We considered it’s a better choice to come to the mainland as a precaution,” he told BBC News.

“Nothing has been falling, or anything like that,” he said, adding that the worst part had been the sound. “That’s the most scary part of it,” said Mr Sakavaras, who plans to return home once schools reopen.

On Tuesday morning, representatives from the government, armed forces and emergency services met to discuss the situation. The prime minister will chair a similar meeting on Wednesday.

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.

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.

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 Greek Islands are near such a line.

As plates move in different directions over long periods of time, friction causes energy to build up.

It becomes so great that the energy is released, which creates a shock wave – an earthquake.

About 9,000 people have left the island since Sunday, with additional emergency flights scheduled to leave on Tuesday.

More than 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the past two days near the island, and some experts say tremors could continue for weeks. Authorities have closed schools and warned against large indoor gatherings, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged calm.

Santorini is a popular tourist destination but most of those leaving are locals, as February is outside the peak tourist season.

Dozens of tremors have been recorded in the Aegean Sea north-east of Santorini so far on Tuesday, with a large earthquake measuring magnitude 5 striking mid-afternoon.

Several days of continuous seismic activity has led some residents to sleep in their cars – afraid to spend the night in their homes in case walls or ceilings cave in.

No major damage has been reported on the island so far, but emergency measures are being taken as a precaution.

Hundreds of people queued at a port in the early hours of Tuesday morning to board a ferry leaving for the mainland.

“Everything is closed. No-one works now. The whole island has emptied,” an 18-year-old local resident told Reuters news agency before boarding the vessel.

Local media reports around 6,000 people have left the island by ferry since Sunday, and a further 2,500 to 2,700 passengers will have flown from Santorini to Athens via plane on Monday and Tuesday, according to Aegean Airlines.

The carrier said it had added nine emergency flights to its schedule following a request from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

In recent days, an estimated 9,000 people in total have fled Santorini – a small island with a population of just 15,500.

The island welcomes millions of tourists annually, but bookings this time of year are minimal, so local residents and workers make up the majority of evacuees.

Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived on Santorini for 18 years, left the island with his wife and children on Monday.

“We considered it’s a better choice to come to the mainland as a precaution,” he told BBC News.

“Nothing has been falling, or anything like that,” he said, adding that the worst part had been the sound. “That’s the most scary part of it,” said Mr Sakavaras, who plans to return home once schools reopen.

Schools are scheduled to stay closed on the island until Friday. Authorities have also warned people to avoid certain areas of the island and empty their swimming pools.

Santorini’s Mayor, Nikos Zorzos, said the island was prepared for seismic activity that “may last many weeks”. The island must approach it “with patience and calm”, he said on Tuesday.

He added that plans were in place to build shelters and provide food for the population should larger tremors emerge.

On Tuesday morning, representatives from the government, armed forces and emergency services met at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection to discuss the situation.

The prime minister will chair a similar meeting on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis said on Monday that Greece was working to manage “a very intense geological phenomenon”.

Seismologists consider the recent tremors to be minor, but preventative measures have been put in place in case a larger quake occurs.

Emergency services have warned residents to leave the areas of Ammoudi, Armeni and the Old Port of Fira due to landslides.

The South Aegean Regional Fire Department has been placed on general alert and rescue teams have been dispatched, with crews standing watch by large yellow medical tents on the island.

Concern remains high over the hundreds of earthquakes in the region of the Greek Cyclades Islands, with scientists rapidly analysing data to better understand the phenomenon.

Most of the strongest earthquakes are originating from an area around the tiny islet of Anydros, north-east of Santorini.

With seismic activity remaining intense in the region, scientists are on alert not only for Santorini, but also for Amorgos, Anafi and Ios.

In the event of a larger earthquake, the main issue is the resistance of buildings, especially in Santorini, due to the peculiarities of the soil.

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 that the recent tremors were related to tectonic plate movements instead of volcanic activity.

Scientists cannot currently 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 to prepare.

Earthquakes occur as the result of tectonic plates moving either past, below each other or apart. This results in stress that is built up and then released as earthquakes along or near the boundaries of these plates – known as fault lines. Santorini and the Greek Islands are near such a line.

As scientists cannot predict such events, the best way to prevent damage or loss of life is for authorities to reduce the vulnerability of their populations. This can be through designing and constructing earthquake-resistant buildings or evacuating residents when earthquakes begin.

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 4.6 in magnitude have been recorded over the last couple of days – with quakes of 4.3 and 3.9 magnitude reported nearby on Sunday.

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 earthquares 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.

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.

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.

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.”

Prof Papazachos said that were a minor earthquake 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.

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.

One of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, around 1600BC, created the island in its current crescent-shaped form – though there is evidence of human settlement dating back to the Bronze Age.

The island has been struck by several eruptions since, the most devastating occurring in 1956, killing at least 53 people.