An earthquake was recorded by CIVISA at 8:08 PM local time (9:08 PM in Lisbon) with its epicenter approximately four kilometers south-southeast of Raminho, in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo.
“Based on the currently available information, the earthquake was felt with a maximum intensity of III (Modified Mercalli scale) in Raminho and Serreta (municipality of Angra do Heroísmo),” it was stated.
According to CIVISA, the tremor is “part of the ongoing seismo-volcanic crisis on Terceira Island since June 2022.”
On the Richter scale, earthquakes are categorized by magnitude as micro (less than 2.0), very small (2.0-2.9), small (3.0-3.9), light (4.0-4.9), moderate (5.0-5.9), strong (6.0-6.9), major (7.0-7.9), great (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9.0-9.9), and extreme (when above 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures “degrees of intensity and respective descriptions.”
With an intensity of III, the tremor is considered weak, noticeable indoors with objects swaying, and described as a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles,” according to the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) on its website.
