The Portuguese Government reports that no personal or material damage has been reported despite the great intensity of the earthquake. Civil Protection will evaluate material damage in Portugal.
An earthquake of estimated magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scaleaccording to the United States Geophysical Institute (USGS) and the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center, was felt in the early hours of Monday from north to south of Portugalwith greater intensity in the Lisbon and Setúbal areas.
On social networks, information is multiplying according to which the earthquake it was felt until Porto, but also in Spain and Morocco. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has revised the magnitude of the earthquake to 5.3 on the Richter scale.
Origin of the earthquake
The earthquake occurred at 5:11 local time. with epicenter 58 kilometers west of Sines, on the high seasand at a depth of 21 kilometers. In a statement, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) reported that “at 05:11 (local time), an earthquake of magnitude 5.3 was recorded (Richter) in the stations of the continental seismic network, with the epicenter located about 60 kilometers west of Sines”.
According to the information available to date, this earthquake It did not cause personal or material damage and was felt with a maximum intensity of IV/V (modified Mercalli scale) in the Sines region, while it was felt with lower intensity in the Setúbal and Lisbon regions. If the situation justifies it, new statements will be issued,” the IPMA statement underlines.
Reactions, material damage and no victims
Civil defense informed the Portuguese news agency that he had received reports that the earthquake had been felt throughout the Lisbon metropolitan areaincluding the capital, but also in the district of Setúbal and in other parts of the country.
“We received many calls, especially from people who wanted to know what was happening and what they should do. At this time (06:00) we have not yet managed to count the number of calls received,” said Commander José Miranda, of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
According to José Miranda, for the moment no reports of casualties or major damage. “We only have information at this time about a situation on a street in Sesimbra where possible cracks in buildings are being evaluated,” she said.
In a statement issued on Monday morning, cited by the digital newspaper ‘Observer‘, the Portuguese Government said it was “in close coordination with all the competent services” after the earthquake and assured that “there is no evidence of personal or material damage so far”, calling on the population to remain calm and continue. the recommendations of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
The same statement indicates that all the information will be updated throughout Monday morning by the IPMA and Civil Protection. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, who will be acting prime minister during the Luis Montenegro’s vacationwill visit the headquarters of the National Civil Protection Authority at 9:00 in the morning.
