Earthquakes near Santorini prompt Greece to declare state of emergency

The government of Greece declared a state of emergency Thursday after a series of earthquakes near Santorini have prompted people to flee the popular tourist destination.

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, according to reporting from Reuters.

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck the area Tuesday and was recorded less than 10 miles east of the island after a separate temblor, measured at a magnitude of 4.7, struck off the island’s coast, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The latest quake took place just after 3 p.m. local time, according to USGS. Data provided by USGS showed the latest earthquake was 6.2 miles deep.

No injuries were immediately reported, but hundreds have fled the island as a safety precaution, according to multiple reports, after several other earthquakes were recorded northeast of the island this week.

According to Reuters, authorities on Wednesday warned of a high landslide risk on parts of the island and have shut down schools, dispatched rescuers and advised residents to avoid ports and indoor gatherings.

How many earthquakes has Greece had in recent days?

Hundreds of temblors have been registered “every few minutes in the sea between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos, in the Aegean Sea, in recent days,” Reuters reported Tuesday, prompting authorities to shutter schools in Santorini and on nearby islands including Anafi.

In addition to the Tuesday quake which measured at magnitude 4.7 just before the 3 p.m. quake, online USGS data listed a dozen other earthquakes that have occurred in the region since Monday.

Those quake magnitudes range from 4.0 to 5.3.

‘We are going to leave because I am afraid’

Photos taken on the island show people waiting in line and boarding a ferry to Piraeus during increased seismic activity in the area. According to Reuters, people also fled Santorini in planes Tuesday to reach safety in other cities including Athens.

This article was originally published by a www.usatoday.com . Read the Original article here. .

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