Greek seismologists have registered around 21,500 earthquakes near the Greek island of Santorini in the past three weeks, the University of Athens said.
The island, which was placed under a state of emergency earlier this month, has been in a state of uncertainty since a series of tremors began.
Many residents have fled the island to the mainland, while hoteliers and others in the hospitality industry are anxiously awaiting the holiday season that begins in April.
The intensity of the tremors has decreased significantly in the past few days, and scientists are hoping for a gradual de-escalation of seismic activity.
However, seismologists cannot rule out the possibility of a major earthquake measuring six or more on the Richter scale, the DPA news agency reported.
A meeting of the government’s crisis council in Santorini said that up to 300 buildings on the edge of the Santorini crater were likely to collapse in the event of a strong earthquake.
The Santorini crater was formed by a volcanic eruption about 3,600 years ago, and its steep rims are now home to houses and hotels.
