Schools reopened on the idyllic island of Santorini after remaining closed for several weeks following a swarm of earthquakes hammering the region, with the Greek Minister of Tourism saying that Santorini this summer will be welcoming visitors like every other year.
Schools on Santorini and the neighboring islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos reopened on Tuesday, March 4, despite ongoing minor tremors. Experts say that the seismic activity, which began in late January and continued for almost a month, has subsided, allowing life to return to normal after the long Clean Monday public holiday.
Inspections of public buildings across the island have confirmed they have withstood the tremors and are safe to reopen, while the enhanced safety measures introduced during the earthquake swarm will remain in place.
The Interdisciplinary Committee for Risk and Crisis Management at the University of Athens has recorded a steady decline in seismic activity, noting that both the frequency and the intensity of the earthquakes have decreased. Previously, the committee had recorded more than 20,000 earthquakes of magnitude 1 or higher between January 26 and February 22, sometimes only minutes apart. The tremors were due to natural tectonic movements and magma shifts below the seabed. The earthquake swarm prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency on the island, as well as in neighboring Amorgos, in early February and forced thousands of local residents and workers to flee.
Santorini will be open to visitors despite earthquakes
At the same time, Olga Kefalogianni, the Greek Ministry of Tourism, speaking to reporters at an international tourism exhibition in Berlin, Germany, affirmed that Santorini will be open to visitors just like every other year, noting however that some “safety parameters” will be in place.
“Safety comes first,” she added, “if we need to introduce [safety] measures, we will do so.”
Santorini, one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations and renowned for its volcanic caldera, is part of a volcanic arc with underwater volcanoes near its coast, including Nea Kameni and Kolumbo. Santorini’s volcanoes have been almost “quiet” for almost 400 years. The last time Kolumbo erupted, in 1650, it killed more than 70 people and caused a 40-meter-high tsunami. Strong earthquakes and aftershocks were recorded, along with toxic gases and smoke. The most recent eruption took place between January, 10, and February 2, 1950.
Meanwhile, a new, international expedition is underway to study Santorini’s volcanic activity and hazards.
The project, called “HYDROMOX” and funded by the British government, will be implemented through the National Oceanography Center and will enable scientists and researchers to understand the natural mechanisms that affect the underwater volcanic seafloor.
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