Over 1,000 small earthquakes rattle Portuguese volcanic island within 48 hours
Categories: FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Around 1,100 small earthquakes have rattled one of Portugal`s mid-Atlantic volcanic islands in less than 48 hours, prompting authorities to activate an emergency plan as experts assess what they have described as a "seismic crisis".Rui Marques, head of the Azores archipelago`s seismo-volcanic surveillance centre CIVISA, said on Monday the earthquakes, with a magnitude ranging from 1.9 to 3.3, had been recorded on the island of Sao Jorge since Saturday afternoon. Describing it as a preventive measure, Luis Silveira, the mayor of the municipality of Velas, where much of Sao Jorge`s population lives, signed a document on Monday to activate an emergency plan due to the earthquakes.The sudden increase in seismic activity is reminiscent of the earthquake swarms detected prior to the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Spain`s La Palma island last year, some 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) southeast of the Azores. In a statement on Sunday, the regional Civil Protection authority said it had already contacted local mayors and fire units, and asked them to "remain vigilant" and help the people of Sao Jorge if needed.It urged people to stay calm, stay informed and follow the recommendations of officials. Only 63 of the 1,100 earthquakes registered so far have been felt by the population, Marques told Lusa."We must be a bit concerned," Marques told Antena 1 radio station. "We should not raise an alarm but we will be attentive to the evolution of the situation."