An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hit the Greek island of Santorini late Monday, officials said, the strongest yet of the thousands of tremors that have shaken the area, prompting thousands to leave. Felt as far away as Athens,

The top tourist island of Santorini has been struck by its strongest earthquake in weeks amid a wave of increased seismic activity in the region.

Residents on the popular island of Santorini have experienced thousands of earthquakes this month while researchers have revealed a new magma chamber growing underneath the Kolumbo submarine volcano.

Earthquakes are still rattling Greece’s volcanic island of Santorini every few minutes as authorities bolster their emergency plans in case the hundreds of temblors in recent days are a harbinger of a larger quake to come.

A state of emergency has been declred in Santorini, a volcanic island and popular tourist destination in Greece, as an 'earthquake swarm' that began earlier this month continues. Since 31 January, more than 800 tremors with a magnitude of three and above have been recorded.