JAKARTA - Santorini Island, a well-known tourist destination in Greece, received its first cruise ship this year on Sunday last week, after an earthquake on February 4 caused a state of emergency and mass evacuation, raising concerns among local residents about its potential impact on the tourist season.
The earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale occurred due to natural tectonic processes and magma movements under the seabed. However, the damage it caused was only small.
No major damage was reported on the island after the earthquake, but authorities said they would set up an evacuation port to facilitate safe evacuations for residents in the event of a larger earthquake.
On Sunday morning March 23, Celestial Discovery anchored in the sparkling waters of Aegean off the coast of Santorini with around 1,700 tourists mostly from America.
Previously, Celestyal Cruises had crossed out Santorini from the list of destinations earlier this month.
"It's great to know that the island is reopening and we can visit it first," said a passenger named Deborah Terry (67), as reported by the Daily Sabah March 24.
Another passenger, Julie Eberly, said she believed the island was free from danger.
"We believe in the tourism council here, so if they say it's safe to come, we come with open arms," he said.
As an island with about 20,000 inhabitants, Santorini formed as it is today after one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history around 1600 BC.
The island is visited by around 2.5 million tourists every year and its economy is almost completely dependent on tourism.
More than 20,000 earthquakes measuring 1 or more were recorded between January 26 and February 22, according to the Interdisciplinary Committee for Risk Management and Crisis at the University of Athens.
Undersea earthquakes sometimes recorded in just a matter of minutes also caused thousands of residents and workers to flee the nearby islands, Ios, Amorgos and Anafi.
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An unprecedented increase in seismic activity even in earthquake-prone countries like Greece has prompted authorities to close schools, stop construction and send rescuers to the island.
Local residents said they had hopes for visitors returning to the island.
"We all hope things will return to normal, people will return," said Tassos Kontos, a shop owner.
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