INSTAGRAM island Santorini has been hit with horror landslides after the holiday hotspot was rocked by terrifying earthquakes.
Greek experts have clarified that the recent earthquakes in the region are not connected to the volcanic activity of Santorini. Despite this assurance, concerns are mounting due to the worrisome pattern of seismic events.
Santorini and other surrounding islands have been described to be “dancing” as seismic activity continues to intensify.
A notable earthquake, registering an alarming 4.3 on the Richter scale, struck the sea area 19km southwest of Amorgos. This was closely followed by another tremor measuring 4.6 in magnitude, just 14km southwest of Arkesini, occurring only 30 minutes later.
And, at the same time, landslides began to devastate the beautiful Santorini coasts due to the intense tremors.
Video footage capturing the aftermath of the earthquakes reveals rocks dramatically collapsing, resulting in large clouds of dust near the picturesque, whitewashed landscapes of Santorini.
Rocks were also captured plummeting into the sea as residents and visitors watched on in horror.
Phones on the island blared terrifying alert warnings about the slides as various earthquakes caused deafening rumbles.
Citizens and visitors have been speaking out about their fears from the quakes and consequential landslides – with many desperately fleeing their homes.
One resident, Michalis Gerontakis, said: “I have never felt anything like this and with such frequency – an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes.
“Everyone is anxious even if some of us hide it not to cause panic, but everyone is worried.”
Another local, Nadia Benomar, explained: “We’ve had earthquakes before but never anything like this. This feels different.”
Authorities have banned access to some spots by the sea, including Santorini’s famous old port, due to the close proximity to the cliffs.
Schools were closed and emergency crews deployed in Santorini as fears grew of the earthquake.
Precautions were also ordered on several nearby Aegean Sea islands – all incredibly popular holiday hotspots – after over a whopping 200 undersea earthquakes were recorded in the area over the past three days.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said from Brussels: “We have a very intense geological phenomenon to handle.
“I want to ask our islanders first and foremost to remain calm, to listen to the instructions of the Civil Protection [authority].”
The Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias urged citizens late on Sunday to “strictly adhere to safety recommendations to minimise risk”.
Santorini sits in the middle of the Aegean Sea Plate and close to an active volcanic arc that runs between Greece and Turkey across the Aegean.
Between 2011 and 2012, there were a series of earthquakes after magma moved below the surface.
Big eruptions are only expected from the volcano every 22,000 years – giving another 19,000 to go until a big one is expected.
