Greece declared a state of emergency on Santorini after a series of earthquakes hit the popular tourist island, forcing over 10,000 residents and workers to evacuate. Since Sunday, the area between Santorini and Amorgos has experienced hundreds of tremors, with the strongest registering a magnitude of 5.2 on Wednesday night.

Authorities have cautioned about a significant landslide risk on parts of the island, resulting in school closures, the mobilization of rescue teams, and recommendations for residents to stay away from ports and indoor gatherings. The army, fire service, and police have been sent to the island.

The state of emergency, announced by the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry, will be in effect until March 3 to address the population's needs and the aftermath of the seismic activity. While Greece is known for its seismic activity, experts have noted that the recent surge in earthquakes is unprecedented and could persist for weeks or even months.

Santorini's current geological form was shaped by one of the most massive volcanic eruptions in history, occurring around 1600 BC.