Athens, 4 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The hundreds of minor and moderate tremors to shake Santorini over the past 12 days have prompted more than a third of the island's 16,000 residents to leave for the mainland out of fear a major earthquake could soon strike, Greek media reported on Tuesday.

Several temblors were registered once again overnight, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.9. Earthquakes of this intensity usually do not pose a danger to islanders, but the swarm of recent activity has put the popular tourist destination on high alert.

There has been rush for ferry and flight tickets as residents seek safer ground. Airlines have set up special flights and shipping companies have sent additional ferries.

"I haven't slept for days, the children and women are crying, there is an earthquake every five minutes," a man who had managed to get a seat on a Blue Star ferry to Athens told a Greek broadcaster.

Greek seismologists are anticipating a larger quake to strike at some point, likely between a magnitude of 5.5 and 6. In this range, the dangers are still relatively low; it is mainly poorly built houses that are at risk, they say.

An earthquake measuring magnitude-7 or higher could cause widespread damage, however.

"Never before have we seen a phenomenon of so many earthquakes in such a short time," geology professor Evi Nomikou told the news channel Skai.