An earthquake of magnitude 2.3 on the Richter scale was felt this Thursday in the early hours of the morning on the island of Terceira, within the framework of the ongoing seismovolcanic crisis, reported the Seismovolcanic Information and Monitoring Center of the Azores. (CIVISA).
According to CIVISA, the earthquake was recorded at 04:12 local time (05:12 in Lisbon) and had its epicenter about eight kilometers southwest of São Mateus.
“According to the information available so far, the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity III (modified Mercalli scale) in São Mateus and São Bartolomeu (municipality of Angra do Heroísmo),” says CIVISA.
The earthquake “it is part of the ongoing seismovolcanic crisis on Terceira Island since June 2022”.
On June 27, CIVISA raised the alert level of the Santa Bárbara volcano to V3 and that of the Terceira Island volcanic fissure system to V1.
At volcanic alert levels, V0 means “state of rest” and V6 “eruption in progress”, according to the 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), mild (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 it is greater than 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures “degrees of intensity and respective description.”
With intensity III, considered weak, the impact is felt inside the house and the hanging objects swing, feeling a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles,” describes the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere. on their website.
Source: Observadora
