Greek premier visits Santorini as island still feeling shakes

ATHENS

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Santorini on Friday as seismic activity continued to rock the island in the southern Aegean Sea.

On Thursday, Greek civil protection authorities declared a state of emergency on the island until March 3.

Mitsotakis said his visit was aimed at overseeing the emergency preparation efforts. He traveled alongside Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias and the governor of the South Aegean region.

“The entire state mechanism has obviously been mobilized. We are listening carefully to the instructions and directions of the experts, who, in turn, advise the civil protection authorities,” he said.

Mitsotakis urged the island's residents to stay calm and follow the advice of civil protection authorities.

Much of the island’s population of 15,000 has already fled due to the intense tremors and fears that disaster could strike.

On Thursday, a team of engineers arrived to inspect buildings.

Santorini is one of the most popular Greek islands for tourists, drawing more than 3 million visitors annually.

The striking island was the site of one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Occurring around 3,600 years ago, it left the island crescent-shaped and marked by dramatic lava cliffs.