Hundreds of people on the island of Santorini are leaving as Greek authorities step up their response to the spike in seismic activity.
Authorities deployed emergency rescue crews to Greece's volcanic island of Santorini as hundreds of people scrambled to leave after a spike in seismic activity raised concerns about a potentially powerful earthquake.Precautions were also ordered on several nearby Aegean Sea islands — all popular summer holiday destinations — after more than 200 undersea earthquakes were recorded in the area over the past three days.
Mobile phones on the island blared with alert warnings about the potential for rockslides, while several earthquakes caused loud rumbles. Authorities banned access to some seaside areas, including the island's old port, that are in close proximity to cliffs. Government officials met with scientists throughout the weekend and on Monday to assess the situation, while schools were also ordered shut on the nearby islands of Amorgos, Anafi and Ios for the entire week.
Residents and visitors were advised to avoid large indoor gatherings and areas where rock slides could occur, while hotels were instructed to drain swimming pools to reduce potential building damage from an earthquake. That eruption, which occurred around 1620BC, destroyed a large part of the island, blanketed a wide area in metres of ash and is believed to have contributed to the decline of the ancient Minoan civilisation, which had flourished in the region.
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