An earthquake measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale was felt this morning on the island of Terceira, as part of the current seismovolcanic crisis, reported the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
According to IPMA, the earthquake It was recorded at 4:40 am local time (05:40 hours in Lisbon) and had its epicenter about four kilometers east-southeast of the parish of Serreta, on the island of Terceira.
“According to the information available to date, did not cause personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity III/IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the Santa Bárbara parish,” the statement reads.
This was the Second earthquake felt on Terceira Island in 18 hours.
Another earthquake, measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale, was felt at 11:34 a.m. on Monday (12:34 p.m. in Lisbon) and had its epicentre about three kilometres northeast of the parish of Doze Ribeiras, on the island of Terceira.
This morning’s earthquake “is part of the ongoing seismovolcanic crisis on the island of Terceira since June 2022,” said the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA).
On June 27, CIVISA raised the alert level of the Santa Barbara volcano to V3 and that of the island’s fissure volcanic system to V1.
At the volcanic alert levels, V0 means “state of rest” and V6 “eruption in progress”, according to information available on the CIVISA website. Level V3 confirms the reactivation of the volcanic system, with signs of high activity.
According to the Richter scale, earthquakes are classified according to their magnitude as micro (less than 2.0), very small (2.0-2.9), small (3.0-3.9), slight (4.0-4.9), moderate (5.0-5.9), strong (6.0-6.9), large (7.0-7.9), important (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9.0-9.9) and extreme (when greater than 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures “degrees of intensity and respective description.”
At intravenous intensity, considered moderate, “suspended objects sway, the vibration is similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles or the sensation of a heavy ball hitting the walls, parked cars sway, windows, doors and dishes shake, glass and crockery rattle or clink and at the top of this level walls and wooden structures creak,” describes the IPMA on its website.
Source: Observadora
