Over 11,000 individuals have already departed Santorini, with approximately 7,000 leaving via ferry and around 4,000 departing by air.
The earthquake occurred two minutes after two smaller tremors hit, reaching its peak at 21:09 local time (19:09 GMT) as the strongest in recent days with a magnitude of 5.2.
Up to now, there has been no report of major destruction on the island, but measures are being taken to prevent potential harm.
The Greek islet of Santorini receives millions of visitors each year, but since it's low season right now, local residents and workers make up the majority of those being evacuated.
Schools on Santorini and nearby islands such as Anafi, Paros, Naxos and Mykonos will remain shut until this Friday, at which point a decision will be made as to when they can reopen.
The Minister for Climate and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, announced that units of firefighters specialized in natural disasters have been dispatched to Santorini. Additionally, teams equipped with special dogs and a mobile operations center have also been sent to the island. Helicopters are prepared to intervene at a moment's notice in the event of an emergency.
He mentioned that the coast guard and armed forces would be at the service of individuals in need, who wish to be evacuated.
Earlier on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed an optimistic outlook at a gathering of civil defense specialists.
'First and foremost, the state puts its faith in science and scientists - something we've already done in other times of crisis.'
"Everything has been put into action. Troops have been deployed to Santorini and the other islands so we are prepared for any possible scenario," said Mitsotakis.
We will continue this way with the positive expectation that situations will improve, and the situation will stabilize.
Mitsotakis ended his statement by urging islanders to "stay calm and follow the instructions of the authorities".
"I comprehend the apprehension of being on Santorini, where it is consistently experiencing seismic activity," he pointed out, noting that the situation would be evaluated on an ongoing, daily basis.
Santorini is situated on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, a chain of islands formed by volcanic activity. The most recent significant volcanic eruption in this region occurred in the 1950s.
Greek authorities have stated that the recent earthquake activity is a result of tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity.
Scientists cannot forecast the exact date, magnitude, or geographic location of earthquakes.
However, there are regions where the affected areas are more prone to these situations, thereby enabling governments to prepare better for such occurrences.
Earthquakes occur as a consequence of tectonic plate movement within the Earth's crust. At times, these plates become stuck when they encounter one another, a phenomenon known as a plate boundary or a fault line.
Santorini and the Greek Islands are situated near the equatorial Concordia line.
- Thousands flee Santorini as more earthquakes shake the island.
- Earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.5, 4.9 and 5.6 hit the region early on Tuesday morning.