One of the many quakes rattling Santorini over the past few days led to a landslide on one of the island’s iconic beaches: Red Beach.
The beach, known for its striking deep red sand composed of volcanic rock from the nearby caldera, is now closed to the public.
Images aired on Mega Live News on Tuesday showed massive rocks tumbling down the cliffs following the tremor. At the same time, a group of tourists from China were seen taking selfies as the rocks roared to the ground.
Previously accessible from the archaeological site of Akrotiri, Santorini’s Red Beach can now only be reached by boat.
A powerful earthquake struck near Santorini on Tuesday registering 5.0 on the Richter scale. It was the strongest quake recorded in the area so far.
Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos told The Associated Press that the seismic activity could persist for weeks before subsiding. Meanwhile, experts warn that a stronger earthquake may be imminent.
With safety concerns mounting, locals and tourists have been leaving Santorini on special flights and ferry services. Schools on Santorini and the nearby islands of Amorgos, Ios, Anafi, Tinos, Leros, and Patmos have been closed. Emergency response teams, including the Greece’s Special Disaster Response Unit, Civil Protection teams, and air rescue squads, remain on high alert.
As tremors continue, authorities urge residents and visitors to remain vigilant, fearing further disruptions in the days ahead. Despite the warnings, thousands have already left the island for mainland Greece over the past few days.
Early Tuesday morning, a 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck at 4:46 a.m. between Santorini and Amorgos, with its epicenter located 20 kilometers south-southwest of Arcesine, Amorgos, at a depth of 14.3 kilometers, according to the Geodynamic Institute. This was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, measuring 4.2, 3.9, and 4.0 on the Richter scale.
