Earthquake Swarm Near Santorini Declines, but Risks Persist for Residents and Tourists

An earthquake swarm near the island of Santorini in Greece is gradually subsiding after a month of seismic activity, Greek scientists reported on Monday. The tremors, which began in late January, have caused significant concern, leading thousands of residents and workers to evacuate from Santorini and nearby islands such as Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi.

The undersea shocks, often recorded just minutes apart, led to heightened fears of a major quake, but recent reports suggest that the seismic activity is diminishing. The Interdisciplinary Committee for Risk and Crisis Management at the University of Athens indicated that both the frequency of earthquakes and their maximum magnitudes have decreased. "Seismic activity continues to show a gradual decline, both in terms of the daily number of recorded earthquakes and maximum magnitudes," the committee said in a statement.

Despite this, the threat is not over. Schools on the affected islands remain closed for a fourth week, and other restrictions are still in place to ensure public safety. Over 20,000 earthquakes, all with a magnitude of 1 or higher, were recorded between January 26 and February 22, with the largest earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale. Though these tremors have caused only minor damage, the ongoing risk of further seismic activity remains.

Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos reported that several thousand residents had returned to the island since late last week. However, he urged the Greek government to provide further assistance, especially in controlling rockfalls and repairing protective infrastructure such as hillslope fencing.

For now, the situation appears to be improving, but scientists and local authorities continue to monitor the area closely. The islands of Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi remain on high alert as the region recovers from the earthquake swarm.