Residents on the popular island of Santorini have experienced thousands of earthquakes this month while researchers have revealed a new magma chamber growing underneath the Kolumbo submarine volcano.

The last time Kolumbo experienced a major eruption was 1650, coughing out ash seen as far away as Turkey. Pyroclastic flows – fast-moving, searingly hot clouds of volcanic ash and gases – killed 70 people.

Greek officials have declared a state of emergency, and tourists and locals have fled the tourist island of Santorini amid earthquakes in the past few days.