The hundreds of earthquakes that have rattled Greek islands on the Aegean Sea are a “seismic swarm” and could continue for weeks before eventually diminishing, the Santorini mayor told The Associated Press on Tuesday — pausing to chuckle as new tremors shook items on his desk.

Thousands of people evacuated Santorini after a series of earthquakes in recent days hit the picturesque Greek island with fears of additional tremors.