As quakes rattle Greek islands, a few brave tourists enjoy having Santorini to themselves

Santorini, Greece — 

More Greek islands closed schools Tuesday arsenic hundreds of earthquakes rattled the Aegean Sea, portion a fistful of hardy tourists enjoyed having Santorini's stunning views to themselves.

Thousands of residents and seasonal workers person near the Cycladic Islands arsenic hundreds of quakes up to magnitude 5 were recorded successful the volcanic portion since Friday. Ferry and commercialized formation operators added services to accommodate departures.

The quakes person caused cracks successful immoderate older buildings but nary injuries person been reported truthful far. On Tuesday, schools were unopen connected 13 islands, up from 4 the erstwhile day. Santorini earlier canceled nationalist events, restricted question to the land and banned operation enactment successful definite areas.

Efthimios Lekkas, caput of the state-run Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said that the epicenter of earthquakes successful the Aegean Sea was moving northward distant from Santorini, emphasizing that determination was nary transportation to the area's dormant volcanoes.

"This whitethorn past respective days oregon respective weeks. We are not capable to foretell the improvement of the series successful time," Lekkas told state-run television.

In Santorini's main town, Fira, the narrow, whitewashed streets on the island's clifftops were deserted — a uncommon show adjacent successful the offseason — but for tiny pockets of circuit groups, galore from Asian countries.

Joseph Liu, from Guangzhou successful confederate China, said that helium had wanted to sojourn Santorini for years aft seeing it successful a documentary. He joined household and circuit radical members connected a balcony platform typically utilized for high-end wedding receptions.

"This spot is amazing, truly beautiful. Just similar I saw successful the program: the mystery, the scenery," helium said. "The [group] person told america astir the earthquakes earlier we came truthful it was not a surprise."

Retired constabulary serviceman and vessel idiosyncratic Panagiotis Hatzigeorgiou, who has lived connected Santorini for much than 3 decades, said that helium has turned down offers to enactment with relatives successful Athens.

"Older residents are utilized to the earthquakes ... But it's antithetic this time. It's not the aforesaid to person earthquakes each 2-3 minutes. The main happening is not to worry," helium said, adding with a laugh: "Now we tin perceive to euphony unsocial and person java by ourselves."

In Athens, authorities officials are continuing to clasp regular high-level readying and appraisal meetings with briefings from land officials.