As the island of Santorini continues to experience daily seismic activity, authorities remain on high alert. Since the declaration of a state of emergency on February 1, more than 11,000 residents have reportedly left the island, leaving large areas temporarily unoccupied. This has raised concerns among local authorities about potential criminal activity, particularly break-ins and burglaries in abandoned properties.
In response, the Thira Police Department has been reinforced with additional officers and patrol vehicles to ensure security across the island, including its most remote areas. Speaking to ERT, Thira Police Director Panagiotis Grivas stated:
“As part of our operational planning and the strengthening of our department with both officers and patrol vehicles, we are implementing a set of measures to prevent potential unlawful activities and enhance the sense of security among citizens.”
The state of emergency is set to remain in place at least until March 2. Meanwhile, speaking on SKAI channel on Friday, Vasilis Karastathis, Director of the Geodynamic Institute, noted that while a period of relative calm is anticipated, intermittent seismic activity is expected to continue.
