An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale was felt today on the islands of Faial and Pico, said the Seismic Information and Surveillance Center of the Azores (CIVISA).
According to CIVISA, the earthquake was recorded at 12:33 (13:33 in Lisbon) and had an epicenter about 42 kilometers west of Capelo, in Faial.
“According to the information available so far, the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity IV (Modified Mercalli scale) in the parishes of Capelo, Castelo Branco, Feteira, Angústias, Matriz, Conceição and Praia do Almoxarife (municipality of Horta, island of Faial) and in the parish of Candelária (municipality of Madalena, island of Pico),” the source said in a statement.
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), 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 “degrees of intensity and their description”.
When there is an intensity IV, considered moderate, “parked cars sway”, “windows, doors and crockery shake” and “glass and crockery rattle or clink”, and walls or wooden structures may creak, reveals the Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) on its website.
