Shaky Isle

Santorini is still being shaken by hundreds of quakes a day. 90% of residents have left. 

Santorini Animal Welfare is thanking everyone for taking their domestic cats and dogs with them. However there are dozens of donkeys used for transporting tourists. Shepherds with herds of goats I'm sure have stayed behind to look after their animals. The Animal Welfare Society is doing their best to make sure all the beasties are fed, watered and in a safe place, well away from rock slides and falling buildings.

The PM declared a state of emergency in the area till March 3.

The Army has moved in to set up in preparation for disaster and help keep people distant from landslides and falling masonry.  They also patrol the deserted streets to stop looting. Wherever there's a catastrophe there's  low life ready to further the misery. 

If you've ever visited the island you'll know that the landing places, harbours, ports are at the bottom of steep cliffs. 

Cruise ships off-load at the bottom and you can walk up a steep winding path, ride a donkey, or take the cable car.

I've never been there but all my non Greek family have. I'm glad they all saw it in its heyday.

It is known for its picturesque blue and white cliff top villages, narrow streets, cliff-hanging hotels and rich ancient history. However, it's  crowded with daily visits from dozens of cruise ships. Beaches are mainly black sand or volcanic pebble.

It is, was, a popular wedding and honeymoon island.  Thousands of tourists gazed nightly at its spectacular sunsets.

It's volcanic soil grows excellent tomatoes. My father remembered them from his visit, searching out German troops, during WW11.

It is also known for its split peas and it's white wine made from unique varieties grown only on its wind blown vineyards .

Santorini and all the nearby Cycladic Islands Amorgos, Ios, Naxos and Paros would have been booked out for the upcoming Western and Orthodox Easters.

Even if the emergency is over by April there will be clean-up to be done and people will not be hurrying back to stay in an uncertain clime.

Turkey and Israel are both preparing for an aftermath tsunami if a big earthquake does occur. Turkey says they'll have one hour to evacuate coastal towns.

This quake phenomenon is called a seismic swarm . It happened before in 2011 and was a series of moderate quakes which  lasted 15 months. I can't remember that happening. 

Experts are divided on whether there will be a stronger earthquake, 6 and over. However they do think an eruption unlikely.