A strong earthquake near Santorini days after the tremors

A strong earthquake It was recorded between the Greek islands in Amorgos and Santorini, after days of successive tremors.

More than 11,000 people have already left Santorini, with about 7,000 leaving the phrase and 4000 people by air.

5.2 earthquake at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT) hit Wednesday, Which makes it the strongest in the last days. It is estimated that it occurred at a depth of 5 kilometers.

This was followed by an earthquake of 4.7 registered size southwest of Amorgos at 07:50 local time on Thursday, after recording 57 tremors between midnight and 06:30.

No significant damage has yet been reported on the island, however The authorities take preventive measures in the event of a larger earthquake.

“Seismic continues at the same pace as in the previous days, intense,” Vasilis Karaastathis, director of the Geological Institute, told ErtNews.

“We have a large number of earthquakes with sizes above 4,” he said.

“However, we are not in a situation that allows us to say that we see any evidence that will slowly finish the sequence. We are still in the middle of the road. We have not seen any thinning, any sign that it is heading towards it.”

Santorini welcomes millions of tourists annually, but at the present time, it means that the local population and workers make up the majority of the leave.

Bad weather means that the ferry from Santorini to Piraeus near Athens will not work. Negative conditions are expected to continue in the coming days.

Many travelers in the port of Santorini remain on the emergency phrases that were created as many families want to leave the island.

Schools will remain in Santorini – and other neighboring islands including Anafi, Paros, Naxos and Mykonos – closed until Friday, when the authorities make a decision regarding the reopening date.

The island has been strengthened with firefighters and medical employees from Naxos, another island.

All hospital employees are ready to help those who have been on the island while canceling all leave and vacation days.

Ambulance units have also arrived to enhance Al Jazeera service, and the armed forces are also expected.

According to the Ministry of Health planning, in the event of an emergency need for employees, the first thing that will happen is for doctors and nurses to move from other islands. In the event of an increasing need in Santorini, doctors will also be sent from Athens to the island.

A reserve telecommunications station is created in the Santorini City Hall, to be activated in the event of a large earthquake and the problem of communications.

Vasilis Kikilas, Minister of Climate and Civil Protection, said that the units of firefighters specialized in natural disasters were sent to Santorini. Teams were also sent with private dogs and a center for mobile operations to the island, while helicopters are in preparation in the event of an emergency.

Kiklias also said that the Coast Guard and the Armed Forces would be available to help vulnerable people who want to evacuate.

Earlier on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kiriacos Mitsotakis hit an optimistic tone at a meeting of civil protection experts.

“First and foremost, the state trusts science and scientists. We have done so in other crises,” the Prime Minister said.

“All plans have been implemented. The forces have been transferred to Santorini and other islands, so that we are ready for any possibility,” Mitsotakis confirmed.

“We will continue like this with good hope that things will improve, and this phenomenon will calm down.”

Mitsotakis concluded its statement with a call to Al -Jazeera residents “for calm and cooperation with the authorities.”

He added: “I understand the fear that I will be in Santorini, who is constantly shaking,” stressing that the situation will be evaluated on a daily basis.

In a letter to government ministries, the Thira Chamber of Commerce requested that companies be suspended on the island and support measures are taken in emergency situations in line with those during Covid-19.

The letter said: “The consequences of the local economy are countless, the central markets are weakened, and companies lose customers and revenues.”

“The island is deserted, with 11,000 permanent populations left yesterday, which is expected to rise to 14,000 by the end of this week.”

“Therefore, since the local economy is collapsing and the situation is getting worse constantly, we believe that, especially for Santorini, a state of emergency must be presented.”

Santorini on what is known as the Hellenic Sagittarius – a series of islands created by volcanoes – but the last large eruption was in the fifties.

The Greek authorities said that the recent tremors were linked to tectonic, not volcanic activity.

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

But there are areas in the world where they are likely to happen, which helps governments to prepare.

Earthquakes are the result of the movement of tectonic panels in the Earth’s crust. Sometimes, these panels are closed together when meeting, which are called the boundaries of the plate or the error line.

Santorini and other Greek islands near such a line.