Travel Warning for Romanians Visiting Santorini Island Amid Major Quake Fears
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs Romanian citizens who are in, transiting, or planning to travel to Greece that, due to increased seismic activity in Santorini in recent days, Greek authorities have decided to take preventive measures. The MAE advises Romanian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the ports of Ammoudi, Armeni, Kourfou, and Fira and to follow official updates from Greek authorities via this link: https://civilprotection.gov.gr/en/deltia-tupou/anakoinosi-ypoyrgeioy-klimatikis-krisis-kai-politikis-prostasias-1.
Romanian travelers in Greece can also access the digital app “mAIGreece,” developed by the Greek Ministry of Tourism and available in Romanian: https://www.gov.gr/en/upourgeia/upourgeio-tourismou/tourismou/maigreece.
According to an MAE statement sent to AGERPRES, Romanian citizens can request consular assistance at the phone numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Athens: +30 210 6728875; +30 210 6728879, and the Romanian Consulate General in Thessaloniki: +30 2310 340088. Calls will be redirected to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and handled by Call Center operators 24/7.
Additionally, Romanian citizens facing a difficult or emergency situation can use the emergency phone numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Athens (+306978996222) and the Romanian Consulate General in Thessaloniki (+306946049076).
The MAE recommends consulting the following websites for travel advice and alerts:
https://www.mae.ro/
https://atena.mae.ro
https://salonic.mae.ro
Greece Prepares for Major Quake: Special Forces Sent to Santorini
Greek authorities have sent special forces, rescue teams, tents and drones to the island of Santorini after hundreds of earthquakes were recorded in the area, according to The Guardian.
Amid fears of a larger earthquake that could trigger a tsunami, people have been advised to avoid the shore and abandoned buildings, empty swimming pools, and refrain from gathering in large numbers in enclosed spaces. The Ministry of Civil Protection announced that schools would be closed as a precaution on Monday.
“Nothing can be ruled out,” said Kostas Papazachos, a professor of geophysics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, speaking to state broadcaster ERT. “And that’s why precautionary measures are being implemented, precisely to limit the impact of a stronger earthquake.”
Greece sits on multiple fault lines and is often shaken by earthquakes, but experts described the surge in seismic activity over a 48-hour period—recording more than 200 tremors—as dramatic. However, they emphasized that the quakes were triggered by tectonic movements rather than volcanic activity.
Papazachos told local media that many of the tremors measured between 4 and 4.5 on the Richter scale, with the strongest occurring in the waters between Santorini and Amorgos.
Santorini, the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, is also Greece’s most popular Aegean island, attracting around 3.5 million tourists last year.
By Sunday evening, as similar measures were implemented on Amorgos and the nearby islands of Ios and Anafi, rescue teams in Santorini set up tents in elevated areas such as basketball courts and parking lots. In the event of a tsunami, people were advised to move inland.
Ferry companies reported an increase in foreign workers leaving the island for the port of Piraeus. Research has shown that the crust beneath the seas around Santorini is riddled with fault lines. In 1956, the island suffered severe damage from an earthquake exceeding magnitude 7, which also triggered a tsunami.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said that “anything is possible,” but noted that the intensified activity had been recorded “at sea, at significant distances from the islands,” which was “fortunate.”
Additional protective measures were discussed during a cabinet meeting convened by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis later on Sunday, attended by the head of the armed forces amid speculation that the military might also be deployed to the Aegean islands.
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