The earthquake of magnitude 5.2 on the Richter scale felt today in the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira, in the Azores, did not cause victims or material damage, according to the SRPCBA.
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20/10/2026
by
Lusa
O earthquake of magnitude 5.2 in Richter scale felt today in the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira, in the Azores, did not cause victims or material damage, according to the Regional Service of Civil Protection and Firefighters of the Azores (SRPCBA).
The SRPCBA reported in a statement issued by 19:37 locals (one more hour in Lisbon), that “there is no record of victims or material damage associated with this event so far”.
The earthquake was felt by 18:07 locals (19h07 in Lisbon) and had an epicenter about 40 kilometers west of Ginets, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
The SRPCBA points out that it is following the situation, “in conjunction with civil protection agents and other competent entities” and calls for the “serenity of the population”.
In addition to recommending the monitoring of the information disclosed by the official bodies, recalls the importance of adopting self-protection measures in case of earthquakes, available for consultation at the SRPCBA portal, at https://www.prociv.azores.gov.pt/awareness/self-protection-information measures/.
The Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcanica dos Açores (CIVISA) reported that the shock (which attributed a magnitude of 5.1) “was felt with maximum intensity V/VI (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipality of Ponta Delgada”, on the island of São Miguel.
“ The event was also felt with intensity V in the municipalities of Ribeira Grande, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo and Povoação, with intensity IV/V in the municipality of Nordeste, with intensity IV in the municipalities of Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória (island Terceira) and with intensity III in Vila do Porto (island of Santa Maria) ", added.
A second earthquake of magnitude 3.4 on the Richter scale was felt in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, at 18:30 locals (19:30 in Lisbon).
The event had an epicenter about 37 kilometres west of Ginets, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, in the Eastern group of the Azores.
“According to the information available so far the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipality of Ponta Delgada”, CIVISA indicated.
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”.
With intensity VI, considered quite strong, the earthquake is felt by all and many people get scared and run into the street, according to the description of the IPMA on their website.
Already with intensity V, considered strong, earthquakes are felt outside the house, people are awake, liquids oscillate and some extravagant, small objects in unstable balance move or are knocked down, the doors oscillate, close or open, while the blinds and frames move and the pendulums of clocks stop or change the state of oscillation.
In cases of earthquakes with 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 wooden structures creak”, indicates the IPMA.