Santorini has been rocked by yet another powerful earthquake as seismic activity continues to shake the Greek island.
Initially, local media reported the quake as a 5.3-magnitude, calling it the strongest among the hundreds of tremors recorded. However, in the hours following, it was revised to 5.2.
The earthquake struck at 10:16 PM local time on Monday, with its epicenter located 14 km southwest of Arkesini, in the waters between Santorini and Amorgos, according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute, confirmed the earthquake registered 5.3 on the Richter scale but reassured that it was not a major event. He explained that “it is no different from previous strong earthquakes of 5, 5.1, or 5.2 on the Richter scale”, as Santorini continues to experience tremors.
Authorities declared a state of emergency last week after the island was hit by thousands of quakes, which have been growing in strength and frequency.
On Saturday alone, eleven quakes measuring at least 4.0 were recorded, with dozens more reported in the days since.
Since February 1, the island has experienced over 800 tremors measuring at least magnitude 3, with experts warning of a ‘quake storm’ sweeping through the region.
The strongest quake previously recorded, a 5.2 magnitude event, struck last Wednesday, sending shockwaves as far as Athens, Crete, and even parts of Turkey.
Greece, known for its seismic activity, sits atop multiple fault lines, making it one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone nations.
More than 11,000 residents and tourists have fled Santorini, prompting airlines to add extra flights to facilitate evacuations.
The island will remain under a state of emergency until at least March 3. In response, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has allocated £2.5 million for the construction of an emergency evacuation route connecting the southern part of the island.
“We are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best,” he reassured locals during his visit on Friday.
Authorities have urged people to steer clear of ports and avoid gathering indoors as emergency teams—including the army, fire service, and police—work across the island.
With tremors now occurring almost every minute, fear has gripped those who remain. Many have resorted to sleeping outside on mattresses, too afraid to stay in their homes due to the risk of collapse.
Meanwhile, some residents have taken matters into their own hands, building makeshift tsunami barriers out of sandbags along Monolithos Beach, where structures sit precariously close to the shoreline.
Authorities even urged hotel owners to drain their pools, fearing that excess water could weaken building foundations in the event of an earthquake.
Despite the concerns, no casualties or significant damage have been reported so far.
Seismologists attribute the tremors to shifts in tectonic plates rather than volcanic activity, even though Santorini lies on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc—a chain of islands shaped by ancient eruptions.
Experts warn that the island is experiencing a “seismic crisis” with no clear resolution in sight, sparking fears that a more powerful and destructive quake could strike in the coming days.
