Six earthquakes felt in the Azores in nine hours: five had their epicenter off the island of Terceira

Two new earthquakes were felt this Monday morning in Terceira, accounting for six events on that Azores island since Sunday night, according to the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA).

The two most recent earthquakes were recorded at 08:08 local time (09:08 in Lisbon), with the first having a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale and an epicenter around three kilometers south of Raminho (municipality of Angra do Heroísmo). ), and the second had a magnitude of 2.7 and an epicenter about three kilometers east of Serreta, in the same municipality.

“According to the information available to date, the earthquakes were felt with maximum intensity IV (Modified Mercalli scale) in Raminho, Serreta and Altares (municipality of Angra do Heroísmo), and in Biscoitos, Quatro Ribeiras and Agualva (municipality of Praia da Vitória).

During the night, the Azores were hit by four earthquakes in four hours. The island of Terceira concentrated almost all of these earthquakes.

In a statement, CIVISA indicates that one of the earthquakes, measuring 2.3 on the Ritcher scale, was recorded at 03:56 (04:56 in Lisbon) and had its epicenter approximately three kilometers south of Raminho, on the island of Terceira. .

According to the information available so far, the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity IV (Modified Mercalli Scale) in Serreta. It was also felt with intensity III in Biscoitos.

Another earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale was recorded and felt on the island of Terceira at 03:27 (04:27 in Lisbon) and had its epicenter about three kilometers south of Raminho, in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo.

In a statement, CIVISA added that the earthquake was felt in the western part of Terceira, with maximum intensity V on the Modified Mercalli scale. The event was still felt with IV/V intensity in the eastern half of the island.

The IPMA assessed the earthquake as being of magnitude 3.9 (Richter) and estimated that the epicenter was located approximately four kilometers east-southeast of Serreta, in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo.

Another earthquake, with a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 01:26 (02:26 in Lisbon) and had its epicenter around four kilometers east of Serreta, said CIVISA.

In a statement, CIVISA said that “the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity IV (Modified Mercalli Scale) in Serreta, Raminho, Altares, S. Bartolomeu (municipality of Angra do Heroísmo) and Biscoitos (municipality of Praia da Vitória)” .

This morning’s tremors are part of “the ongoing seismovolcanic crisis on the island of Terceira since June 2022”, said CIVISA.

On June 27, CIVISA raised the alert level for the Santa Bárbara volcano to V3 and that of the fissure volcanic system on Terceira island to V1.

At volcanic alert levels, V0 means “resting state” and V6 “ongoing eruption”, according to the information available on the CIVISA website. Level V3 confirms the reactivation of the volcanic system, with signs of high activity.

A first shock, measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale, was felt at 23:32 (00:32 today in Lisbon) on the island of Faial, which is also part of the central group of the Azores, according to the center.