Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa.
Here are the three things to take away from today’s Europe Live blog:
Former Swedish prime minister and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson has told the Guardian that the country’s gun laws should be changed after the mass shooting in Örebro, in which 11 people died, including the attacker (16:03). Earlier today, Swedish authorities confirmed that there are people of “multiple nationalities” among the victims (11:14) as they continue their investigations into the attack, the perpetrator, and his motive (11:11).
Greek authorities have introduced a state of emergency on the island of Santorini as tremors continue to hit the area. The measure is of administrative importance and should help coordinate civil protection response, but adds to fears about further earthquakes.
If you want to watch a live stream of Santorini shared on the local government’s website, you can do it here.
If you click on it, you can rewind the stream to enjoy a nice and peaceful sunset there in full. You will share it with the one person I have seen on that stream for the last three hours. Just saying.
New poll published just over two weeks before the German federal election on 23 February has shown that voters are increasingly concerned about the polarisation in the country and the political parties’ ability to form a coalition government after the vote amid growing divisions on immigration and the “firewall” against the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (16:31).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
See you again tomorrow.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Updated
State of emergency declared on Greek island of Santorini as tremors continue
in Athens
Greek civil protection authorities have declared a state of emergency on Santorini to meet the urgent needs “and consequences that have arisen since the seismic activity began.”
The emergency measures, declared by the island’s town hall, come hours after seismologists recorded a 5.2 magnitude earthquake – the most powerful tremor to be felt on Santorini since the first of an estimated 7,700 temblors were registered last week.
The measures, which are expected to see the army take a more active role in crisis management, will be in effect until Monday, 3 March when the Orthodox nation marks the beginning of Lent.
“It’s what we need to deal with this situation and we requested that it be enforced,” said Santorini’s mayor Nikos Zorzos.
With experts speaking of a geological phenomenon that could last weeks, fatigued locals continued to leave the island with ever more likening the exodus to “an unofficial mass evacuation.”
Over 12,000 people have fled by boat and plane since the barrage of tremors intensified at the weekend with few tourists now believed to be on the outpost. By Thursday Santorini’s main hilltop settlement – the biggest draw on an island that attracted 3.5 million tourists last year – resembled a ghost town, its shops shuttered, its narrow streets tapered off by police fearing ever more rock slides.
Government officials said prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis would also be visiting the island on Friday in what was described as “a show of solidarity.” Others said the move also underscored just how serious the situation now is.
Late Thursday trucks could be seen disembarking from ferries loaded with generators. In a further sign of emergency services being relocated to the island, it was announced that social workers and psychologists would also be dispatched to Santorini.
Experts are divided as to whether last night’s 5.2 earthquake is a precursor to a much more powerful tremor – one that could trigger a tsunami – or a sign that the seismic buildup is on the wane.
