A series of earthquakes has continued to rattle the Greek island of Santorini and its surrounding areas, keeping residents and authorities on high alert. On Monday morning, three more tremors exceeding 4.0 magnitude on the Richter scale were recorded, following a moderate 5.0 magnitude earthquake between Santorini and Amorgos on Sunday evening.

The region has been experiencing heightened seismic activity for the past two weeks, with experts warning that a major earthquake cannot be ruled out. Since January 26, thousands of tremors have been recorded, leading to widespread concern. As a precaution, a state of emergency will remain in place on Santorini until at least March 3.

Despite the frequent tremors, inspections have found no structural damage to buildings in Santorini or Amorgos. No injuries have been reported, but the persistent seismic activity has led more than 11,000 people to leave the affected islands. Authorities have decided to keep schools closed on Santorini, Amorgos, and several other nearby islands on Monday and Tuesday.

In response to the ongoing situation, a team from the Special Disaster Response Unit has departed from Patras for Amorgos, equipped with a specialized earthquake rescue vehicle. Additionally, technical teams are expected to assess the electricity network on the island to ensure continued functionality amid the tremors.

Kostas Papazachos, a professor of seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, emphasized the need for patience, stating that authorities must prepare for the seismic activity to persist throughout February. "Let's hope that we will slowly move towards a gradual de-escalation," he told broadcaster ERT. However, he acknowledged that the possibility of a significant earthquake has not yet been ruled out.

The strongest quake recorded so far was a 5.2 magnitude tremor last Thursday. While Greece is one of Europe's most earthquake-prone countries, scientists remain puzzled by the current clusters of quakes, which have not been linked to a major seismic event.

Meanwhile, the impact of the tremors is being felt beyond the local population. The cruise ship Viking Star, carrying 893 passengers and 470 crew members, was set to be the first cruise vessel of the season to visit Santorini. However, it changed its course and docked in Crete’s port of Souda early Monday morning, primarily to avoid congestion at Santorini’s cable cars during the ongoing seismic activity.

As uncertainty looms, residents and visitors continue to monitor developments closely, hoping for a return to stability in the coming weeks.