An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hit the Greek island of Santorini late Monday, officials said, the strongest yet of the thousands of tremors that have shaken the area, prompting thousands to leave. Felt as far away as Athens,

Thousands of locals and travelers have evacuated the Greek island of Santorini amidst a spike in seismic activity.

Earthquakes are not uncommon on Santorini and in 1956 was actually struck by one of the most serious quakes to affect Greece over the past 100 years. A 7.7-magnitude temblor, dubbed the Amorgos earthquake, triggered a roughly 20-meter (65-foot) tsunami, causing significant damage in Amorgos and Santorini and killing more than 50 people.

The latest of hundreds of earthquakes rattled the volcanic Greek island of Santorini on Tuesday after the strongest one so far with magnitude 5.3. Medical staff staged a hospital evacuation drill as scientists say it's unclear whether the weeks of highly unusual seismic activity precede a larger quake.

The top tourist island of Santorini has been struck by its strongest earthquake in weeks amid a wave of increased seismic activity in the region.