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Fresh tremors shake top Greek tourist island Santorini

Fresh overnight tremors shook Greece's top tourist island Santorini, media reports said Monday, prompting people to sleep outdoors and others to leave by plane or ferry.

03 February 2025, MVT 14:50
(FILES) This general view shows the Three Bells of Fira, the Catholic Church of the Dormition, in the village of Fira on the Greek island of Santorini on July 19, 2024. Schools on the Greek tourist island of Santorini will remain closed on February 3, 2025, after dozens of small earthquakes shook the region, civil protection authorities announced. Government officials, including Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias ordered the move on February 2, after a series of tremors in the sea around Santorini and surrounding islands, the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. (Photo by Aris Oikonomou / AFP)
03 February 2025, MVT 14:50

Fresh overnight tremors shook Greece's top tourist island Santorini, media reports said Monday, prompting people to sleep outdoors and others to leave by plane or ferry.

Over 200 minor earthquakes were recorded at sea or on surrounding islands, with the strongest -- of magnitude 4.6 -- striking the waters between Santorini and Amorgos on Sunday afternoon.

An 4.2-magnitude quake was recorded at 7:10 am (0510 GMT) on Monday northwest of the small island of Anafi, near Santorini, the Institute of Geodynamics of the National Observatory of Athens said.

Efthymios Lekkas, the president of the Organisation of Antiseismic Planning and Protection, told ERT public broadcaster on Monday that there was a "faint possibility of a 5.5 magnitude earthquake", but ruled out one measuring over six.

Greek media said several people spent the night outdoors, either in their cars or areas designated as safe by the authorities.

Many left the island on flights or ferries, media reports said.

Schools on the island of some 15,500 were closed on Monday.

Greek authorities have asked people to avoid large gatherings in enclosed spaces and stay away from certain ports, derelict buildings, and empty swimming pools.

Santorini welcomed 3.4 million visitors in 2023, raising concerns over overtourism.

© Agence France-Presse

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