ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s government declared a state of emergency on Santorini on Thursday after hundreds of undersea earthquakes shook the resort island for nearly a week.

About 10,000 people have left on ferries and planes in recent days as hundreds of small quakes were registered in the surrounding sea.

Experts say the Greek island of Santorini has been hit by more than 1,000 earthquakes, but they're not linked to the region's active volcanoes.

Multiple earthquakes are rattling Santorini, a volcanic island in Greece, prompting authorities to dispatch rescuers with tents, a sniffer dog and drones, and to shut schools on four islands. Residents have been warned to avoid indoor gatherings,

The strongest earthquake recorded was magnitude 4.6 at 3:55 p.m. Sunday, at a depth of 14 kilometers (9 miles), the Athens Geodynamic Institute said.

Despite dozens of minor earthquakes in recent days, Greek scientists have ruled out a massive earthquake hitting Greece's Santorini island.

Hundreds more people were expected to leave Greece's Santorini island on Wednesday as tremors shook the popular summer tourist destination for a sixth day. About 6,000 people have left on ferries and planes in recent days as hundreds of small quakes were registered in the surounding sea,

Experts say the Greek island of Santorini has been hit by more than 1,000 earthquakes, but they're not linked to the region's active volcanoes.

An "unprecedented" set of earthquakes has struck the popular Greek island of Santorini with seven successive tremors recorded on Thursday alone as authorities mobilised emergency services in preparation for “any eventuality”.