“Strongest Earthquake Yet Strikes Santorini Island Amid Ongoing ‘Quake Storm’ Following Declaration of State of Emergency”

Santorini has reportedly been hit by a 5.3 earthquake, which local media says is the strongest of hundreds of tremors hitting the Greek island. 

The earthquake happened at 22.16pm and had an epicentre 14km southwest of Arkesini, in the sea between Santorini and Amorgos, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reports. 

Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute, told the newspaper that this earthquake measured 5.3 on the Richter scale.

But he cautioned that it was not a ‘major earthquake’ and ‘is no different from previous strong earthquakes of 5, 5.1 or 5.2 on the Richter scale’ as more tremors are recorded on Santorini.

A state of emergency was declared last week after the Greek island experienced thousands of quakes that have been increasing in strength and frequency. 

Eleven quakes with a magnitude of at least four were felt on Saturday alone, and dozens more have been reported since.

Since February 1, more than 800 tremors with a magnitude of three and above have been recorded, with experts saying a ‘quake storm’ was hitting the island. 

The previously considered strongest quake to hit the island, measuring 5.2, occurred last Wednesday and was even felt in Athens, Crete and parts of Turkey.

Experts and members of the military investigate seismic activity at Nea Kameni, uninhabited Greek island of volcanic origin located in the Aegean Sea, within the flooded Santorini caldera in Greece on February 10, 2025

A state of emergency was declared last week after the Greek island experienced thousands of quakes that have been increasing in strength and frequency

Greece sits on multiple fault lines and is one of Europe’s most earthquake-prone countries. 

More than 11,000 locals and holidaymakers have evacuated the island, with extra flights scheduled.

The state of emergency is set to stay in place until March 3. Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced £2.5million funding for an emergency evacuation route from the south of the island to be built. 

‘We are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best,’ he told locals during his visit to the island on Friday. 

Locals have been urged to stay away from ports and avoid gathering indoors, as emergency crews – including the army, fire service, and police – have been deployed across the island. 

More than 11,000 people have now fled Santorini as the island remains gripped by the relentless earthquakes, with tremors now being recorded minute by minute.

Many who have stayed on the island have been sleeping on the street with their mattresses, too scared to stay in their homes in case they collapse.

Other residents have built makeshift tsunami defences using sandbags along Monolithos beach, where buildings sit dangerously close to the water. 

Residents and tourists scramble to leave Greek island on ferries and planes due to ongoing seismic activity in Santorini

Firefighters walk in the almost evacuated village of Fira in Santorini, Greece, 06 February 2025

Hotel owners were even asked to drain their pools due to concerns that overflowing water could destabilise buildings in a quake. 

However, no casualties or major damage have been reported so far.

Seismologists say the quakes are the result of tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity, despite Santorini sitting on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc – a chain of islands formed by ancient eruptions. 

Experts have warned that the island is facing a ‘seismic crisis’ with no clear end in sight, raising fears of a larger, more destructive quake in the days ahead.