It is expected that on Wednesday, hundreds more people will leave the island of Santorini, where underground tremors have been continuing for the sixth day.
According to Reuters, in recent days, about 6,000 people have left the island by ferry and plane as hundreds of small earthquakes were recorded in the surrounding sea, shaking buildings, raising dust on the cliffs, and causing fears of a major earthquake.
The population of the island increases significantly in the summer when millions of tourists visit to admire the traditional whitewashed villas perched on the steep hills. According to the 2021 census, the permanent population of Santorini is 15,000 people, and currently, it is likely that a few thousand residents remain on the island, as it is the off-season.
Authorities have implemented safety measures, including halting construction, closing schools on Santorini and neighboring islands Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi, as well as ordering the draining of pools to reduce the pressure on the land.
Three ferry routes from Piraeus to Santorini and back have been canceled due to rough seas, but it is expected that bad weather will not affect six flights of Aegean Airlines, including two emergency flights.
Seismologists suggest that the high seismic activity may continue for several more days or weeks, although locals and authorities note that on Wednesday the tremors have significantly weakened.
