A seismologist from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has said it may take “weeks” to see how the ongoing earthquakes disrupting Santorini and other Greek islands evolve, warning that the disruption seen so far could amount to foreshocks ahead of a larger quake.

Thousands of residents, seasonal workers and tourists have left Santorini and its neighboring islands after a spike in seismic activity since Jan. 31.

Hundreds of earthquakes that have rattled the Greek islands since last week have prompted the evacuation of thousands from the tourist hotspot of Santorini.