Greece panic as Santorini hit by another huge earthquake

has declared a state of emergency after the popular tourist destination continued to be rocked by .

The island’s town hall declared the measures after – the strongest of the 7,700 detected last week.

As experts revealed this phenomenon could last for weeks, the state of emergency will be in effect until March 3, until which time the army is expected to take on a bigger role in crisis management.

Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos said: “It’s what we need to deal with this situation and we requested that it be enforced.”

Santorini since the earthquakes intensified at the weekend and few tourists are still on the island in what’s been compared to “an unofficial mass evacuation”.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit the island on Friday in “a show of solidarity” that shows the seriousness of the situation.

On Thursday night, trucks carrying generators arrived on ferries to the island, as well as social workers and psychologists.

As yet, it’s not yet known whether Wednesday’s 5.2-magnitude tremor could bring a much more powerful one or a tsunami soon, or is a sign that they’re getting less intense.

Vassilis K Karastathis, seismologist and director of research at the National Observatory of Athens, said: “We are not yet in a position to say that we are seeing any evidence that would lead to the sequence slowly coming to a conclusion.

“We are still in the middle of the road, we haven’t seen any easing, any sign that it’s heading towards a regression.”

its advice for Brits still in or planning to travel to Santorini. “It reads: People are advised not to attend large indoors gatherings and to avoid old or abandoned buildings.

“The Greek Ministry advises people to avoid the ports of Amoudi, Armeni, Korfos and Old Port (Paleos Limenas) in the area of Fira and to choose safe routes when travelling, particularly in areas where the landslide risk is high.

“In case of a strong tremor, people should immediately depart coastal areas.”