Mitsotakis's remarks come as many people in Santorini spent Sunday night outdoors, amid fears of potential damage to buildings during the quakes. Some focal points of the tremors have been recorded at a depth of just 2km (1.2miles) below the surface.

A series of earthquakes near the Greek island of Santorini have led authorities to shut down schools, dispatch rescue teams with sniffer dogs and sent instructions to residents including a request to drain their swimming pools.

Thousands are fleeing the Greek island of Santorini in the southern Aegean Sea, rattled by continued intense seismic activity, according to local media. While many people anxious over the tremors left the island by ferry or plane, those who stayed are on alert, said public broadcaster ERT.