Yesterday, March 19, a small landslide occurred on Santorini, closing the road to Athinios, Santorini’s primary ferry port, disrupting traffic and raising safety concerns just ahead of the busy Easter tourist season.

The municipality estimates that the road could be cleared and reopened within one to two days once unstable fragments are removed. However, deeper structural issues affect the 3.5-kilometre-long port road.

Constantinos Loupasakis, Professor of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, has reported that seismic activity has also played a role, with 460 minor earthquakes recorded in the region since July last year, which have steadily compromised the integrity of the cliffs.

The Professor called for a thorough, systematic study of the entire slope to plan long-term stabilisation works, warning that Santorini’s long-standing stability issues are being worsened by unregulated interventions.

Update: The rocks blocking the road to the port have now been removed and the road has been reopened.