The houses engaged with blue roofs, the volcanic beaches full of tourist and the vibrant bustling of its streets make up the picturesque landscape that many associate with Santorini. However, the that carries shaking the region more than two weekswith earthquakes that have reached a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scalehas left the almost deserted island. So far, tremors have not caused victims or significant damage, but that live in the different towns of the island have been evacuated to Athens.
This seismic chain has lit the concern about it, the main source of income from Santorini. However, some travelers, such as Martí Cuenca and Jose Antonio Domènech, They decide to continue their plans despite everything. The two 23 -year -old Catalan tourists opted last week to undertake the trip to Greece that they had hired three months ago and included a visit to Santorini.
View of Santorini, empty of tourists due to the wave of earthquakes that shakes the island since February 1. / Martí Cuenca
“At first it did not seem so serious, but when we saw that they had declared the state of emergencyWe think the flights would cancel us, “he explains to El Periódico Martí, who was traveling with his friend on a six -day tour, five in Athens and one in Santorini. In those days, the airport of the Greek capital was full of travelersalthough, unlike them, most were directed in the opposite direction. “As we did not receive any message or warning, we continued, we went and We spend the day there equally“He adds.
An island without people, shops or open services
The first clash with the reality of the island came as soon as he lands. “There was no one at the airportonly the staff working there, the 20 people who went down with us from the plane and, at the exit, there were only two taxis, “says this young university student. In the absence of transport options, they chose to rent a car and head to Oiathe most emblematic people of Santorini, with a population of little more than 1,000 inhabitants and whose narrow streets pass more than Two million tourists a year.
A tourist square island of Santorini, deserted by the Ladies. / Martí Cuenca
However, the contrast to the people was currently palpable. The Failure Stores and the restaurants They were closed. “We had just got off the plane and there was absolutely nothing open, so we were a little desperate, especially if we didn’t have to eat,” he says. The only meetings they had in OIA were two workers of a hotel, three people with whom they shared flight, six firefighters and a reporter, who told them the only open restaurant In the town. “She knew the owners and I think they opened the place especially because she called them,” says Martí.
Martí and Jose Antonio’s route continued in Firathe capital, which, despite the situation, showed some signs of life. In this town you could find a couple of pharmacies and four restaurants operating, reflecting limited normality in the middle of the emergency. During their stay on the island, they registered Two fouls of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter scale. “We found out a website that reported the earthquakes, but honestly, We do not notice anything“, says Martí.
A unique experience
The view of the afternoon sun submerged behind the edge of the extinct volcano that is part of Santorini, is one of the more unique images of the island. However, live this moment With no one around It is even more unique and strange. “I had always seen Santorini videos and heard stories where people perhaps Four hours of tail to take the photo In the same place. We went and took the photos we wanted, where we wanted, without problem, “explains Martí, who even shared the experience in a video of Tiktok that already exceeds 400,000 visualizations.
The trip, although unusual, was an experience reminiscent of isolation times during the pandemiawhen only Santorini residents were allowed to remain on the island, but all foreign arrivals were restricted. The current reality is if it can be even more shocking, since most of the inhabitants have abandoned Santorini. “The island looked for us alone, it was brutal“Martí concludes.
Subscribe to continue reading
