Portugal earthquake: Holiday hotspot rocked by powerful magnitude 5.4 quake
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck Portugal on Monday. The quake was reportedly felt as far away as Spain and Morocco, prompting a flood of reactions on social media.
Portugal, a favourite holiday destination for many Irish travellers, was rocked by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake, with the most intense tremors felt in its capital Lisbon. The quake hit in the early hours of Monday, as reported by the US Geophysical Institute (USGS) and the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.
As well as Lisbon, the town of Sines and the Setubal area reportedly experienced the most severe shocks. Social media posts indicate that the earthquake was felt as far north as Porto and even in Spain and Morocco.
The Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA) later downgraded the quake's magnitude to 5.3 on the Richter scale, according to Euronews. The IPMA recorded the earthquake at 5.11am local time, stating that the epicentre was at sea, 58km west of Sines and at a depth of 21km.
Initial reports suggest there were no victims or significant damage in the immediate aftermath. Commander Jose Miranda from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) told Euronews that they received numerous calls from people wanting to know what was happening and what they should do. Mr Miranda said: "We only have information at this time about a situation in a street in Sesimbra in which possible cracks in buildings are being assessed."
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Portuguese authorities have stated that they are working in close collaboration with all appropriate agencies and called on residents to remain calm and heed the advice from ANEPC.
Seismic activity in Southern Portugal is attributed to its position nestled between the Eurasian and Nubian tectonic plates, with active offshore faults responsible for the majority of tremors felt across the nation, experts at the Lisbon Earthquake Museum say. Active faults also exist inside mainland Portugal, and these can generate quite destructive earthquakes. Some faults inside Portugal have yet to be discovered and studied.
Lisbon has weathered numerous earthquakes in the past, including several of notable strength and impact. A cataclysmic event on November 1, 1755, destroyed much of the city and set off massive tsunami waves. The 1755 quake is credited as marking the beginning of the study of seismology as it led to earthquakes being studied more scientifically.
Many people took to social media in the earthquake's aftermath questioning what had happened. One person said: "Big earthquake just now we're I live in Portugal it wake me up at 5am."
Another asked: "Anyone else felt an intense earthquake in Lisbon? Just woke up at 5ish am thinking I had a nightmare but the building kept shaking."
A third wrote: "Damn that was a big one, I woke up that earthquake just now in Portugal, which I usually don’t feel, looks like a 5.9 in Lisbon but I felt it hours away, bed was all shaking."
Someone else posted: "I just abruptly woke from my slumber to an earthquake near Lisbon. Nothing this California native isn't used to, but still jarring nonetheless."
Other comments included: "Just felt an earthquake in Portugal, it woke up the whole house" and "Earthquake in portugal. Bed and furniture shaking at 5.13am".
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