Greek islands close schools amid ongoing earthquake activity

Schools on four Greek islands—Santorini, Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios—will remain closed until February 14 due to ongoing seismic activity, authorities announced on Saturday. Since February 1, the region has experienced over 800 tremors measuring magnitude 3 or higher, with 11 quakes of magnitude 4 or greater recorded on Saturday alone.

The frequent earthquakes have prompted a significant exodus of residents and tourists, particularly from Santorini, home to 16,000 inhabitants. Experts warn that stronger quakes cannot be ruled out and that the heightened seismic activity, unprecedented in the area, could persist for weeks or months. However, they clarified that the tremors are unrelated to Santorini’s nearby volcano, which last erupted violently around 1600 BC.

Greece, located on multiple fault lines, is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Santorini on Friday, announcing a €3 million funding package for an emergency evacuation route and inspecting preparedness measures.

Precautionary measures, including traffic restrictions in vulnerable areas and the deployment of army trucks with electricity generators, have been implemented. The government has also declared a state of emergency to expedite access to state resources.