As hundreds of quakes rattle Greek islands, a few brave tourists have Santorini to themselves

 

SANTORINI, Greece (AP) — The hundreds of earthquakes that have rattled Greek islands on the Aegean Sea are a “seismic swarm” and could continue for weeks before eventually diminishing, the Santorini mayor told The Associated Press on Tuesday — pausing to chuckle as new tremors shook items on his desk.

“This phenomenon may play out with small quakes or a single, slightly stronger one, followed by gradual subsidence,” said Mayor Nikos Zorzos, adding he was cautiously optimistic after speaking to seismologists who described the swarm as a series of tremors of similar magnitude occurring in clusters.

Thousands of residents and seasonal workers have left the Cycladic Islands as quakes up to magnitude 5 have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday. Ferry and commercial flight operators have added services to accommodate departures. More Greek islands closed schools Tuesday.

A handful of hardy tourists enjoyed having Santorini’s stunning views to themselves.

Santorini earlier canceled public events, restricted travel to the island and banned construction work in certain areas. The quakes have caused cracks in some older buildings, but no injuries have been reported.

Efthimios Lekkas, head of the state-run Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said the epicenter of the earthquakes in the Aegean was moving northward away from Santorini, and emphasized there was no connection to the area’s dormant volcanoes.

“This may last several days or several weeks. We are not able to predict the evolution of the sequence in time,” Lekkas told state-run television.

Retired police officer and ship worker Panagiotis Hatzigeorgiou, who has lived on Santorini for more than three decades, said he has turned down offers to stay with relatives in Athens.

“Older residents are used to the earthquakes ... But it’s different this time. It’s not the same to have earthquakes every two to three minutes. The main thing is not to worry,” he said, adding with a laugh: “Now we can listen to music alone and have coffee by ourselves.” ___ Associated Press journalists Lefteris Pitarakis and Petros Giannakouris in Santorini contribute.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/greece-santorini-earthquakes-25df4b59f3c0f3c72d4cfc31f1e0034a

Comprehension

What has been happening in the Aegean Sea near the Greek islands?
How did Santorini’s mayor describe the series of earthquakes?
How strong have the earthquakes been?
What measures have been taken in response to the seismic activity?
Why have thousands of residents and seasonal workers left the islands?
How has transportation been affected by the earthquakes?
What has been the impact on Santorini’s tourism?
Have there been any reported injuries from the earthquakes?
What did Efthimios Lekkas say about the cause of the earthquakes?
How has longtime resident Panagiotis Hatzigeorgiou reacted to the situation?

Discussion

How would you feel if you experienced constant tremors every few minutes?
Do you think it is safer for people to leave the islands or stay? Why?
What should local governments do to prepare for potential larger earthquakes?
How can tourism be affected by natural disasters like earthquakes?
What role does science play in predicting and responding to seismic activity?
How do you think people living in earthquake-prone areas adapt to frequent tremors?
Have you ever experienced an earthquake? If so, how did you react?
What are some ways communities can support each other during natural disasters?
How do media reports influence people's decisions to stay or evacuate during earthquakes?
What lessons can be learned from this seismic swarm to improve disaster preparedness?

Vocabulary

Seismic – Related to earthquakes or vibrations in the Earth's crust.
Swarm – A large group of something happening at the same time.
Subsidence – The gradual sinking or settling of land.
Magnitude – The size or strength of an earthquake.
Epicenter – The point on the Earth's surface directly above an earthquake’s origin.
Dormant – Inactive but capable of becoming active in the future.
Hardy – Strong and able to endure difficult conditions.
Restricted – Limited or controlled.
Evolution – A process of gradual development or change.
Tremor – A small or mild earthquake.