An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 on the Richter scale was felt today on the island of Faial, in the Azores, the Azores Seismic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) said.
According to CIVISA, the earthquake was recorded at 02:27 local time (03:27 in Lisbon) and had its epicentre around 40 kilometers to the west-northwest of Capelo, on the island of Faial.
“According to the information available so far, the earthquake was felt with a maximum intensity of III (Modified Mercalli scale) in the parish of Cedros (municipality of Horta),” the statement said.
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”.
With an intensity of III, considered to be weak, the tremor was felt inside the house and pending objects rattled, feeling a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles”, reveals the Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere on its website.
