Santorini remains on high alert after tremors

The Greek resort island of Santorini is on high alert after more than 200 tremors were recorded over the weekend.

Authorities have warned people to avoid ports, not gather indoors and schools were closed on Monday, travel news hub Travel Mole reported. Thousands of residents departed the island during the week. 

The civil protection ministry said 200 tremors were registered but that doesn’t necessarily mean a large earthquake is imminent.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged islanders to "stay calm" after the increase in seismic activity in recent days in the popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches.

More than 280 earthquakes were recorded across Greek islands the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory said.

Tremors of up to 4.9 in magnitude were recorded north-east of the island on Monday.

Ports affected included Fira Harbour where cruise ships tender offshore.

Disaster response teams are on standby.

“This does not necessarily mean that there will be a strong earthquake, it may well be that the thermal energy dissipates and we have a smaller earthquake in Santorini - but we have to take measures,” said Costas Papazachos, a professor of seismology who is advising authorities.

Santorini is itself is a volcanic island formed by a huge eruption.

Enough! Greece moves to limit cruise ships

The Greek island used to welcome the arrival of big-spending tourists from cruise ships.

But now they are saying "enough". 

Destinations like Mykonos and Santorini say they are struggling to cope when up to five cruise ships at one time descend on infrastructure that is not capable of catering to the masses. 

Travel Mole reports that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has confirmed the imposition of a €20 fee on cruise ship visitors to Santorini and Mykonos during high-season summer months.

The two islands are at the heart of Greece’s fight against overtourism, often almost doubling their population during busy days when multiple cruise ships call.

“Greece does not have a structural overtourism problem but some of its destinations have a significant issue during certain weeks or months of the year, which we need to deal with,” the PM said during a press conference.

“Cruise shipping has burdened Santorini and Mykonos and this is why we are proceeding with interventions,” he said.

“The cruise industry has put a strain on Santorini and Mykonos.”

A portion of the cruise passenger tax will be used to improve infrastructure on the islands, he said.

Mitsotakis also said ‘bold’ cruise ship limits are being looked at for the two islands.

“It is important to observe sustainability rules in everything that is built from now on,” he told reporters. “To put the brakes on islands where we believe that the situation has reached a point where the infrastructure limits are actually being tested.”

Greek tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni recently called for cruise ship quotas, and Santorini officials have proposed a daily limit of 8,000 cruise passengers per day from next year.

“It’s impossible for an island such as Santorini to have five cruise ships arriving at the same time,” she said.