An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 on the Richter scale was felt today on the island of São Miguel, according to the CIVISA. The event took place at 14:18 locations, 40 kilometers west of Ginetes, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.
© Lusa
28/10/2026
by
Lusa
Um earthquake of magnitude 4.0 on the Richter scale was felt today on the island of São Miguel, said the Center for Information and Surveillance Sismovolcanic of the Azores (CIVISA).
According to CIVISA, the event was recorded at 14:18 locations (15:18 in Lisbon) and had an epicenter about 40 kilometers west of Ginetes, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, in the same place where, on October 20, another of greater intensity was recorded.
“According to the information available so far the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity III/IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipality of Ponta Delgada”, he indicated.
The event was also felt with intensity III in the municipality of Ribeira Grande.
On October 20, 18:07 locals (19:07 in Lisbon), an earthquake of magnitude 5.2 was recorded on the Richter scale on the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira, causing no victims or material damage.
According to Richter's scale, the 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 the “degrees of intensity and their description”.
In cases of earthquakes with a intensity IV, considered moderate, “the suspended objects swing, the vibration is similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles or the feeling of hitting a heavy ball on the walls, the parked cars swing, the windows, doors and dishes shake, the glass and dishes shock or tinkle and at the top of this degree the walls and structures of wood roar”, says the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) on its website.
With an intensity III the shake is considered weak, it is felt inside the house and the pending objects swing, feeling a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles”.