Global Rescue Advises Travelers During Santorini Earthquake

Emergency operations teams are monitoring, prepared to assist recovery and evacuation efforts.

Global Rescue is closely monitoring the aftermath of the hundreds of earthquakes measuring between magnitude 3 and magnitude 5 that have struck the volcanic Greek island of Santorini since the weekend. "Global Rescue medical and security operations personnel are monitoring the ongoing situation and are prepared to assist in recovery and evacuation efforts," said Dan Richards, CEO of the Global Rescue Companies, the world's leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel, risk management services. 

Unpredictable natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can strike without warning. Most come from two regions: the Circum-Pacific Belt and the Alpide Belt, an active seismic path running through the Mediterranean and Santorini, a volcanic island in Greece. The Alpide Belt accounts for about 17% of the world's most powerful quakes.  

"Global Rescue responded to earthquake-stricken Haiti and Nepal in the past, deploying emergency personnel to the region and actively engaged on the ground conducting rescue operations, providing intelligence to travelers in the region to ensure their safety, and coordinating airborne resources for evacuations of individuals impacted by the catastrophe," Richards said. 

Thousands of travelers and residents are evacuating the region by air and watercraft.  

Global Rescue advises travelers to ensure their passport, identification, and necessary travel documents are readily accessible. Additionally, they should evacuate sooner rather than later. If authorities issue an evacuation order, follow it promptly. Delaying evacuation can lead to being trapped, cut off from necessary resources or rescue efforts, and exposed to greater danger. Individuals should not solely rely on technology for information and communication since power outages or damaged infrastructure can render technology useless.  

"Keep your devices charged. Power could go out for days, weeks or months. It all depends on the local infrastructure," said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and associate director of security for Global Rescue.  "Readiness, swift action and alert decision-making are core characteristics to manage catastrophic situations successfully."

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