Small Earthquakes Shake Santorini’s Construction Boom

By Lefteris Papadimas and Karolina Tagaris
SANTORINI, Greece (Reuters) – Hundreds of small earthquakes have shaken Greece’s popular tourist destination of Santorini, raising safety concerns about the island’s construction boom on volcanic cliffs.

While no serious damage has been reported, scientists warn that seismic activity may persist for weeks, and a larger quake could follow. Experts question the sustainability of developing Santorini, with some arguing that environmental and safety issues were neglected amidst the development.

“They wanted to develop the island and didn’t pay attention to environmental and safety issues,” said Dimitris Papanikolaou, a geology professor at the University of Athens and former head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation. He stressed that luxury hotels were built on landslide-prone slopes where the volcanic soil is soft.

“Nothing should have been built in this zone,” he stated, identifying it as a danger zone as long as seismic activity continues.

In response to the tremors, the government declared a state of emergency, closed schools, and deployed the army. Thousands have evacuated the island. Landslide warnings have been issued, particularly around Santorini’s main port.

Excessive tourism has raised concerns about overcrowding and water shortages in Greece, with Santorini presenting an extreme example as millions visit its iconic whitewashed buildings each year. The island, shaped by a volcanic eruption in 1600 BC, is familiar with natural disasters, having endured a devastating earthquake in 1956.

Even prior to these earthquakes, experts called for assessments on building reinforcements. A 2021 report highlighted the urgent need for a soil engineering study to evaluate safety on the caldera, revealing many buildings lacked permits, particularly among tourism businesses.

The environment ministry suspended construction on the caldera for a year, mandating risk assessments for existing buildings. Dimitris Bakoyiannis, the ministry’s secretary general, emphasized the importance of checking arbitrary constructions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sought to assure residents, stating that a strict building code is enforced, especially in earthquake-prone areas. However, local residents express deep concern, particularly with the upcoming holiday season beginning in May, as cancellations have surged. Mathaios Kourgialis, a small hotel owner, warned that prolonged seismic activity could jeopardize the tourist season.