Tourists flee but resilient locals stay

By calm summer day on Santorini in July 1956, the land turned against its people.

“I remember our dog and our birds acting strangely. Then, the earthquake struck,” recalls Eirini Mindrinou, 83, his stable but distant voice, as if he was trying to grasp a memory that does not forever really disappeared. “The house opened before closing again. Through the crack in the roof, I could see the sky.”

The earthquake at 7.8 coarse, which struck Santorini and the neighboring island of Amorgos, destroyed a large part of the island, and a powerful replica 12 minutes later, finished the little. Fifty-three people died. The island, then just a calm fishing village, was marked and its inhabitants fled.

It is very different today, rebuilt in one of the most coveted tourist destinations in Greece – but this week, another mass exodus took place. Subtle tremors that had started in June 2024 transformed into earthquakes in its own fullSome exceeding 4.0 on the Richter scale, trembling the houses and disturbing residents of the island. Families rushing to go through the air and the sea, desperately looking for a respite while the ground was trembling again.

But not everyone was fleeing. Those who remain displayed the mixture of courage, necessity and a deep link with the earth that has come to define the inhabitants of this island. They endure white nights, haunted by memories of the past and the terrifying unknown of what has not yet come.

“The sound of the earthquake, the sounds of [other people’s] The houses break – it’s unbearable. Even in my house, it has become overwhelming, “said Margarita Karamolegkou, a local business woman.” I felt tired, day after day, endlessly in sight … But I did not feel in fear. I can’t leave my house and I can’t leave the people who stayed behind. “”

This resilience is nothing new. People resisted both a social change – around 3.4 million people visited the island last year, according to Mayor Nikos Zorzos – and seismic changes. Now, as always, they have gathered in solidarity.

“We do our best to support the vulnerable,” said Matthaios Fytros, a volunteer and local merchant. “People with disabilities, the elderly – many have trouble getting around, and their houses are difficult to reach. If a major earthquake strikes, I know exactly where they live and I will get there as quickly as possible, to the sides of the firefighters.

Matthaios and others patrol the island, ensuring that abandoned properties are not pounded and help anyone in need. “I’m not afraid,” he said with a silent conviction. “We are proud of our island. I just hope that everything is fine and that this event ends soon. We will be happy to find our visitors with us.”

The state’s response was rapid, with measures taken to deal with the crisis. Under the gratitude for the government’s intervention, however, there persists a quiet bitterness. Many islanders remember years when their cries for better infrastructure and support have remained unpublished.

“For years, we have been asking for a better port, something to help us manage the growing number of tourists,” said Margarita, his voice tinged with frustration. “We need help to preserve the identity of the island – its unique environment, the seismic and volcanic forces that shape it. We are grateful for tourists, but we must also protect what makes Santorini special.”

Tourism has become the vital element of Santorini’s economy. The island contributes to around 2.5% to GDP of Greece, or around 5.9 billion euros (4.9 billion pounds sterling) each year.

While the tremors continue, the future of Santorini’s economy remains uncertain. Will his prosperity resist the trembling ground? The inhabitants of Santorini fear that the fragility of the island will soon extend beyond the earth itself.

“I regret how much the development of the island has been randomly with the increase in tourism,” said Eirini, who is temporarily in Athens, not out of fear, but for routine medical tests. “We have damaged the natural environment here. Now, the earthquakes continuing, there is a real risk that we could lose all the tourist season.”

Scientists may not know when the tremors will stop, but instead of succumbing to fear, some residents have chosen to understand the phenomenon, hoping that this will bring them insurance against the unknown.

“I try to think about what’s going on with kindness,” said Margarita thoughtfully. “It looks like something settles there. Everything we admire about Santorini today – beauty, the character – was shaped by the volcano and its seismic forces.”

“We are the most loved island,” explains Matthaios, his voice full of pride. “And I believe that we are the most beautiful in all the islands of Greece. We will come out of this stronger.”