Crete's major earthquake drills amid unpredictable weather patterns

Due to global warming, the weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable, and this spring is the perfect example - after a heatwave in April, it suddenly became very cold last week, with snow falling in the mountains.

Extreme weather phenomena are also intensifying - winds are becoming more gusty, and downpours are more violent and destructive.

The residents of seismically active regions - and Crete, the largest Greek island, is among them - are increasingly apprehensive about the possibility of stronger earthquakes.

In this paradise corner of the Mediterranean, the "Minoas 2024" exercises are currently taking place, with the final phase scheduled for April 22 to April 24. These exercises are intended to serve as a model for other regions of the country and aim to prepare for an earthquake and its aftermath.

Nearly 100,000 island residents, including students from all schools, are participating in the exercises. Evacuations from hotels, public buildings, businesses, and residential areas will be conducted.

Greece is located in a seismically active area; earthquakes are frequent, but most are not deadly.

The last earthquake in Crete that caused a fatality occurred in September 2021. The quake, with a magnitude of 6, resulted in one death and dozens of injuries.

Greece is one of the top tourist destinations, and Crete has been one of the islands most frequently chosen for vacations for years.

It boasts a coastline over 1,000 kilometers (over 621 miles) long. Beyond paradise beaches, it offers magnificent mountain landscapes with gorges dropping steeply straight into the azure sea and a wealth of interesting monuments. It is also home to Balos - the most beautiful lagoon in Europe.