by Takis Tsafos and Alexia Angelopoulou dpa/ Tribune Content Agency
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ATHENS, Greece — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Santorini on Friday and said his government is doing all it can to protect residents on the island, following numerous earthquakes that continue to rock the region.

Seismologists warn that the small quakes at the tourist destination show no signs of stopping and could persist for weeks or months, with concerns that a magnitude 6 earthquake may strike before the activity subsides.

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Between January 26 and February 4, a total of 7,700 earthquakes were registered, as reported by the Faculty of Geology at the University of Athens. The strongest quake in this series reached a magnitude of 5.1.

“I will not give any estimates as to whether major earthquakes are imminent,” the prime minister said. “However, I advise everyone to remain calm.”

Mitsotakis stressed it is up to experts to say what people should do and how the series of earthquakes would continue. He highlighted the importance to prepare and take precautions.

Prime minister visits emergency services

Before making his comments, Mitsotakis visited the emergency services on Santorini, including the fire brigade, ambulance service, police and health centers.

The Greek leader also met with the island’s stakeholders, shopkeepers and businessmen and stressed that “it is our duty to protect Santorini’s reputation as an iconic tourist destination.”

Mitsotakis announced a meeting early next week to discuss specific measures to support entrepreneurship. He added that infrastructure issues on the island must also be addressed.

A large proportion of the island’s inhabitants, mainly women, children and the elderly, have left Santorini and sought safety with relatives on the mainland.

Police officers are patrolling to prevent possible break-ins to abandoned houses.

Schools have been closed on the islands in the region for days for security reasons.

Civil engineers are inspecting important buildings on the affected islands, the Ministry of Citizen Protection announced.