A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Amorgos in the southern Aegean Sea on Wednesday, February 12, as a string of earthquakes continues to rattle the region.
Amorgos is the second island to be placed on a state of emergency. Similar measures had been announced for nearby Santorini on February 7th, after thousands of unusual earthquakes had been registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi. All are popular tourist destinations.
Thousands of Santorini’s 16,000 permanent residents have left the island and schools have been shut until Friday, February 14. Amorgos, which has fewer than 2,000 permanent residents, is considered less at risk owing to its rocky terrain and less dense construction than Santorini.
12,000 earthquakes registered between Amorgos and Santorini
About 12,000 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than one have been registered since January 16, the University of Athens‘ crisis management committee said. Scientists had expressed hope that this “unprecedented” seismic activity would ease but a string of earthquakes with a magnitude of around 5 has renewed concerns. Seismologists have also noted that the epicenter of the seismic activity is steadily shifting northward in the Aegean towards Amorgos.
The emergency declaration by Greek authorities will facilitate the rapid deployment of resources and emergency services. Fire departments, police, coast guard, armed forces and other emergency services have already been mobilized in the region, mostly on Santorini.
Santorini’s Tourism Industry Holds Its Breath as Earthquakes Persist
As Santorini continues to be rattled by earthquakes, the tourism industry is anxious that the tremors will prevent many travelers from visiting the picturesque Greek island.
Tourism executives say that up to now there has been no rush to cancel holidays, but they are keeping their fingers crossed that no destructive earthquake will hit when the tourist season begins in late March to early April.
“Up to now we had no cancellations,” says George Tsolakakis, Owner/Director of Sales at Aqua Vista Hotels, one of the largest chains on Santorini.
For Tsolakakis the biggest problem facing hotels, and the hospitality industry in general, is the fact that thousands of workers working in the industry have left the island because of the continuous tremors.
“Santorini now is practically deserted. Most of the workers have left and it is doubtful whether they will come back as long as seismic activity continues. Even if it stops, it will take time for these people to return.”
The months of February and March are crucial for preparing the hotels and ensuring they are ready to host tourists. “Inevitably preparations will be delayed . . . The tourist season will not start in March as usual but at least a month later,” Tsolakakis said.
Speaking to Greek Reporter recently, the mayor of Santorini Nikos Zorzos expressed his optimism about how things will unfold.
“This is a phenomenon that will end. It cannot last forever. [These earthquakes] will last a few days, some weeks and they will stop . . . Santorini will become the way it was.”
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