Is Santorini safe to visit? Santorini, Greece earthquake update.
Since late January 2025, the south Aegean region has been experiencing a significant increase in seismic activity, particularly near the islands of Santorini and Amorgos. Several thousands of earthquakes have been recorded, mostly of low magnitude, but some reaching between 4.0 and 5.0, most of them at less than 10km depth, which is shallow enough to be felt on surrounding islands. The strongest earthquake, of 5.3-magnitude, occurred on February 10th and was felt as far as Athens, island of Crete and parts of Turkey. In response, Greek authorities declared a state of emergency on Santorini, closed schools, restricted traffic in landslide-prone areas and deployed teams of seismologists to investigate and monitor the situation.
What Is an Earthquake Swarm? Does It Mean a Bigger Earthquake Is Coming?
Seismologists have identified the pattern as an “earthquake swarm”, characterized by multiple earthquakes of similar magnitude occurring within a short period, without a single dominant main shock.
The current swarm is believed to be related to tectonic activity along faults between Santorini and the neighboring island of Amorgos, rather than volcanic activity beneath Santorini itself. While the exact cause is still under investigation, experts note that such swarms can persist for days or even weeks.
Are flights and ferries to Santorini affected by the earthquake?
Despite some news and sometimes blatantly fake videos, Santorini has not been “deserted”. No official evacuation was required by the government, but some residents and tourists chose to leave as a precaution. The empty streets seen on all over the internet are due to winter season and cold weather, which happens every year. Life still goes on, shops are open, airplanes and ferries are arriving and departing on schedule.
For the latest earthquake updates, click here to stay informed with real-time data. (Santorini is also listed as Thira, its official name.) 😉
We’re looking forward for the shaking to stop soon and the 2025 summer season to start as usual, welcoming visitors to our beautiful island.
SANTORINI PHOTOGRAPHER ANNA SULTE 