An earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale was felt in the early hours of Wednesday on the islands of Pico and Faial, reported the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA).
According to the the earthquake was recorded at 02:13 local time (03:13 in Lisbon) and had its epicenter around seven kilometers northwest of Bandeirasno municipality of Madalenaon the island of Pico.
“According to the information available to date, the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity III (Modified Mercalli scale) in Madalena (Pico island)” and with intensity II/III in Ribeirinha, Matriz, Castelo Branco and Praia do Almoxarife, in the municipality of Horta (Faial island), he indicated.
The earthquake was also recorded at the stations of the Azores Archipelago Seismic Network of the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere. .
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), fortes (6,0-6,9), large (7.0-7.9), important (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9.0-9.9) e extremes (when greater than 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures “degrees of intensity and respective description”.
With an intensity III, the shock is considered weak, it 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 IPMA on its website.
Already with an intensity II, considered very weak, the earthquake is “felt by people at rest on the high floors of buildings or favorably placed”.
