Popular holiday destination under threat of volcano capable of 'really destructive eruption'
Santorini, an island in the Aegean Sea, is one of Greece 's leading holiday destinations, attracting more than three million tourists a year.
But the dreamy island was first created by a volcanic eruption. And a series of earthquakes earlier this year has left scientists wondering whether the volcano's next eruption could threaten the island.
While the last volcanic eruption in Santorini was in 1950, scientists told the BBC there was a 'period of unrest' as recently as 2012.
Professor Isobel Yeo, a volcanic expert from Britain's National Oceanography Centre, is currently investigating Santorini's underwater volcanoes.
The expert is one of a team onboard British royal research ship, The Discovery, looking at Santorini's caldera.
Yeo told BBC News that the marine volcanoes are 'capable of really big, really destructive eruptions'.
The scientist added: 'We are lulled into a sense of false security if you're used to small eruptions and the volcano acting safe.
'You assume the next will be the same - but it might not.'
Santorini's volcano is not expected to erupt imminently but scientists believe it is only a matter of time.
The scientists are currently creating a 3D map that they hope will help to predict when an eruption is imminent.
Professor Nomikou, a member of Greece's government emergency group, said that she was inspired to become a geologist after hearing stories about past eruptions from her grandfather.
The scientist said: 'This research is very important because it will inform local people how active the volcanoes are, and it will map the area that will be forbidden to access during an eruption.'
Nearly half of the island's 11,000 residents fled Santorini during the earthquakes earlier this year.
Greece's tourism board has said that the island is now open and operating as normal, after it got the 'green light' from scientists.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
UK's ‘fairytale village' is ‘frozen in time' with no cars allowed
In Clovelly in North Devon, life moves at a slower pace, with goods hauled on wooden sledges and donkeys still making occasional appearances on the cobbled streets Cars are banned in a UK village where locals have decided to do things the old-fashioned way. Perched on the cliffs of North Devon lies Clovelly, a village where it can feel as if time simply stopped. Here, cars aren't just discouraged — they're completely banned. Instead, life moves at a slower pace, with goods hauled on wooden sledges and donkeys still making occasional appearances on the cobbled streets. Visitors to Clovelly quickly discover that modern transport is left firmly at the top of the hill. The only way into the village is on foot, down steep cobbled lanes that wind between whitewashed cottages and burst open into a postcard-worthy harbour. It comes after a British man claimed 'I moved from UK to Benidorm – price of a pint and Full English left me floored'. The absence of cars isn't the result of modern environmental policies but centuries of practicality — the roads are too steep and narrow for vehicles. Deliveries are made on sledges dragged by hand, inching goods down the cobbles to shops and homes. Rubbish is hauled back up in the same way, keeping the village running as it has for generations. For hundreds of years, donkeys were the workhorses of Clovelly. They carried fish from the harbour, hauled building supplies, and transported luggage for visitors. Today, they've retired from hard labour, but you can still meet them in the stables at the top of the village. Meanwhile, the wooden sledge has taken over most of the donkey's workload. Each one is handmade by locals, often adapted to carry everything from crates of food to furniture. Clovell was once owned by the Queen of England, the estate having originally been owned by William the Conqueror, King of England, and then gifted to his had many royal associations until 1242 when first acquired by the Giffard family. Until the middle of the 19th century Clovelly was all-but-unknown to the outside world, such was the private way in which the village was run. Motoring experts at Show Plates World say Clovelly is a fascinating contrast to the UK's car-obsessed culture. 'Britain has always been a nation on the move, but Clovelly shows us what happens when the car is taken out of the picture. The village thrives on tradition and community, proving that life without traffic isn't just possible — it can be beautiful. While cars dominate almost every aspect of modern life, Clovelly's charm comes from rejecting them altogether," a representative of the company said in a statement. 'It's also a reminder of how much cars shape our environment. Walking through Clovelly, you notice the peace, the clean air, and the sounds of people and nature instead of engines. That's an experience you don't forget.' Clovelly's history stretches back to the Domesday Book. For centuries, it's been privately owned and carefully maintained, ensuring its streets, cottages, and harbour retain their unique character. Visitors pay a small entrance fee of around £9.50 for adults and £5.50 for children, which helps maintain the village, its museums and gardens — keeping the cobbles and cottages in pristine condition. Throughout the year, Clovelly also hosts festivals celebrating its maritime roots, including herring, lobster and crab fairs. These events fill the car-free streets with music, food and laughter, reinforcing its strong ties to the sea and its heritage. With its cobbled lanes, flower-draped cottages and sweeping sea views, Clovelly is often described as one of the most beautiful villages in Britain. What sets it apart is not just its looks, but its atmosphere — a sense of stepping out of the modern world into something slower, calmer and more magical.
Rhyl Journal
40 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Starmer returns to Scotland after family holiday interrupted by Ukraine talks
The Prime Minister's plane flew from the US to Glasgow overnight following the White House discussions, landing on Tuesday morning. It had taken off from the same airport the previous day when Sir Keir was heading to the US for the brief trip. On his return to Scotland, Sir Keir will co-chair a call of the so-called 'coalition of the willing', a group of nations looking to help Ukraine that he has been leading with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the second summer in a row that the Prime Minister's holiday plans have been disrupted after he cancelled a European trip last August when rioting broke out in the UK and tensions escalated in the Middle East. The Prime Minister also delayed his departure for a trip last Christmas following the death of his brother aged 60 who had been suffering from cancer. A minister has said it is an 'occupational hazard' that prime ministers can see their holidays disrupted. Pensions minister Torsten Bell told Sky News that Sir Keir has been making a 'real difference' in the negotiations over Ukraine. He told the broadcaster: 'It is an occupational hazard for prime ministers that holidays are interrupted. You'll have been covering that for years. 'I've been around British politics enough to have seen that happen, unfortunately, year after year. 'I want the Prime Minister to have a rest […] all we want to do is make sure that we're addressing these big issues, and that in this summer means making sure we get those security guarantees in Ukraine.'
South Wales Guardian
7 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer returns to Scotland after family holiday interrupted by Ukraine talks
The Prime Minister's plane flew from the US to Glasgow overnight following the White House discussions, landing on Tuesday morning. It had taken off from the same airport the previous day when Sir Keir was heading to the US for the brief trip. On his return to Scotland, Sir Keir will co-chair a call of the so-called 'coalition of the willing', a group of nations looking to help Ukraine that he has been leading with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the second summer in a row that the Prime Minister's holiday plans have been disrupted after he cancelled a European trip last August when rioting broke out in the UK and tensions escalated in the Middle East. The Prime Minister also delayed his departure for a trip last Christmas following the death of his brother aged 60 who had been suffering from cancer. A minister has said it is an 'occupational hazard' that prime ministers can see their holidays disrupted. Pensions minister Torsten Bell told Sky News that Sir Keir has been making a 'real difference' in the negotiations over Ukraine. He told the broadcaster: 'It is an occupational hazard for prime ministers that holidays are interrupted. You'll have been covering that for years. 'I've been around British politics enough to have seen that happen, unfortunately, year after year. 'I want the Prime Minister to have a rest […] all we want to do is make sure that we're addressing these big issues, and that in this summer means making sure we get those security guarantees in Ukraine.'
