Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Representative pic
Over 19,200 earthquakes have hit Amorgos since late January, leaving scientists baffled and residents on edge.
Authorities closed schools on Amorgos and Santorini as children ask: “Should we hide under the bed?”
Unlike typical quakes, this seismic swarm has no clear cause, keeping scientists puzzled about what’s next.
Locals recall a 7.7-magnitude quake and 20-meter tsunami that devastated Amorgos nearly 70 years ago.
Representative pic
While most Amorgos residents remain, thousands have fled Santorini, fearing a more powerful quake.
Shepherds say their flocks are more restless than ever, possibly sensing the constant tremors before humans.
Seismologists and rescue teams are monitoring an uninhabited islet, near where most quakes are centered.
Amorgos relies on 100,000 tourists a year, but residents worry the ongoing quakes will scare them away.
Monks at a cliffside monastery stay calm: “If we must leave, this is the best place to reach heaven quickly.”