2 earthquakes in Lisbon today!

At 12PM (local time), two 4.1 earthquakes in Lisbon district were felt by the population in that region. The epicenter was near the town of Alenquer, approximately 4-km from the town, one of them at 14-km of depth and another at 2km of depth (this information may be updated in the next hours).

The IPMA website is not working as it usually does. Probably due to the increased traffic to the website as people are researching for earthquakes in Lisbon. However, it is possible to read their earthquake warning.

In which cities and towns were the earthquakes in Lisbon felt?

According to the information available so far, the earthquakes did not cause any personal or material damage. Apart from Alenquer, they were felt with a maximum intensity of IV/V (Modified Mercalli scale) in the region of Loures (Lisbon). With that said, buildings are still being evaluated.

They were also felt in the following municipalities, but with less intensity: Montemor-o-novo (Évora), Peniche (Leiria), Lisbon, Sintra, Torres Vedras, Vila Franca de Xira (Lisbon), Benavente (Santarém), Almada and Barreiro (Setúbal). There’s also reports that it was felt in Mafra. Again, this information may be updated in the coming hours.

What to do if there are more earthquakes in Lisbon

Many people forget that Portugal is located near three tectonic plates. They are: the Eurasian Plate, the African Plate and the North American Plate. The Azores were formed in the middle of this three plates. The center and south of continental Portugal are also especially vulnerable to seismic activity and there are have been some strong earthquakes in the past. The last one was in 1969 with a 7.9 magnitude.

In this last years, there have been some small and moderate earthquakes (around 5 in magnitude). Unfortunately, there is no way of predicting when a big earthquake is gonna happen. Maybe, in 50 years, 100 years, … or maybe tomorrow. The strongest earthquakes are mainly caused by the interaction between the Eurasian and African plates.

However, there are also some faults in Portugal that can cause earthquakes. This last moderate earthquake in Alenquer was actually caused by a movement along a fault. Even though, it is not located directly on the major plate boundary, they can still produce moderate earthquakes

But don’t worry. There are some simple recommendations you can follow if you’re visiting or living in Portugal, and you feel an earthquake.

If you’re Indoors

• Drop, Cover and Hold On (under a sturdy table/desk and make sure to protect your head neck)
• Stay away from windows, mirrors, or any furniture (such as wardrobes, bookshelf/bookcase
• Do not use elevators
• You should only get out of youre house or building when it’s safe

If you’re walking on the street

• Move to an open area, away from buildings, streetlights, walls, balconies, power lines, trees, old structures, or anything that can fall on you.

If you’re Driving

• Pull over safely and stop
• Avoid going through bridges, tunnels, and overpasses.

If you’re on the beach

• Go to high ground. A tsunami can come, so it’s better to move to a higher place and away from the sea.

Note: Some locations in Portugal, near the sea like Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, have signs indicating where you should go (safe zone).

After the earthquake check yourself and others for injuries. You should expect aftershocks, so move to a safe place. And finally, follow the authorities orders and the safety procedures if another earthquake occurs.

How can you prepare for earthquakes in Lisbon?

• Keep an emergency kit
• Know your building’s emergency exits (also importance in case of a fire)
• Have emergency contacts in your phone
• Have an evacuation plan, whether you’re at work or home

For more information on earthquakes, stay tuned for a new article in March! (new articles are announced in our social media)