Strong earthquake near Santorini after days of tremors

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

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

Follow the earthquake of two smaller tremors minutes ago, and it was recorded at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT) as a height of 5.2, making it the strongest in the last days. It is estimated that it occurred at a depth of 5 kilometers.

There has been no significant damage yet on the island, but the authorities are taking precautionary measures.

Santorini welcomes millions of tourists annually, but it is currently low in the season, which means that the local population and workers make up the majority of the people who were evacuated.

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.

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.

Kichelias 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.

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 regions in the world where governments that help governments are likely 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.