Since Sunday, hundreds of near-constant tremors have been recorded in the sea between Santorini and the island of Amorgos, the strongest measuring a magnitude of 5.2 on Wednesday night.
Authorities on Wednesday warned of a high landslide risk on parts of the island. They have shut schools, dispatched rescuers and advised residents to avoid ports and indoor gatherings.
More than 12,000 people have fled by boat and plane since the tremors intensified at the weekend, with few tourists now believed to be on the island.
Army, fire service and police units have been deployed to the island.
The Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry said the state of emergency would be in place until March 3, to allow it to respond to the population’s needs and to the consequences of the seismic activity.
“It’s what we need to deal with this situation and we requested that it be enforced,” said Santorini’s mayor, Nikos Zorzos.
With experts speaking of a geological phenomenon that could last weeks, fatigued local people continued to leave the island, likening the exodus to “an unofficial mass evacuation”.
