An earthquake has hit Portugal off the coast of Lisbon. Today, 5.4 magnitude Earthquake Lisbon has affected some areas of Portugal. This has made this earthquake the strongest of all recorded in the last 15 years.
Strongest Earthquake In 15 Years
The seismologists have reported that an earthquake of 5.4 magnitude has hit off the coast of Portugal. This has been the strongest earthquake in the history of 15 years. The origin of the Earthquake is reported to be off in the Atlantic Ocean. This is why some of the cities in Portugal have been affected by it. Lisbon was the most affected area.
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People of Lisbon report that shaking was felt in the morning. The earthquake was felt as far as Morocco. The earthquake hit at 5:11 am (6:11 CET) according to the local time today on Monday. The center of the earthquake was located about 64 kilometers or 40 miles away from the coast. The origin was 64 kilometers southwest of Sesimbra. If you want to know the distance from Lisbon, it was 85 kilometers or 53 miles from Portugal’s capital. The earthquake was recorded 85 kilometers southwest of the Lisbon city.
Geologists Give More Information About Earthquake
The geologists say that this earthquake was a moderate one although the magnitude has been recorded as 5.4. It was found that the earthquake hit about 17 kilometers or 1 mile below the seabed. This is why it has been recorded as a shallow earthquake. The official seismological agency of Portugal known as IPMA has entered their data for the earthquake as a 5.3 magnitude.
Most of the shocks from the earthquake were found on the west side of the country. The most affected areas were Sines, Lisbon, and the areas of Setubal. It is even reported that the earthquake was felt in Porto and some other countries. Reports from Spain and Morocco has also been received about the earthquake.
Reports About The Earthquake
Many people felt the shaking of the earthquake. The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) also received many calls from people about what to do when they felt the earthquake. The head of ANEPC, Commander José Miranda has stated:
We received a lot of calls, especially from people who wanted to know what was going on and what they should do. At this time [06:00] we still haven’t managed to count the number of calls received.
There are some incidents of damage reported which is caused due to this earthquake. It has been reported that Sesimbra has some buildings where cracks are formed in the walls. The Government has instructed the citizens to be calm. It is requested to follow the instructions of ANEPC to ensure safety first. There has been no personal or major material damage as of now.
The earthquake was felt by people for about 3-5 seconds. Earthquakes can be felt more if you are currently at a height. People who live on the upper floors of buildings will tend to feel more shaking. Although it has been recorded as a moderate earthquake, it could still be felt. The earthquake caused trembling in the buildings. One citizen tells her experience during the earthquake:
We are located on the ground floor apartment and the entire building shook above us and the floor below us felt like it was sinking. Our dogs woke up and were freaking out.
Another person who also felt the solid shaking of the earthquake describes it as:
I live in Lisbon and felt it shaking for 3-5 seconds. I am on the 8th floor. It was a light shaking but very noticeable and also a bit scary.
This earthquake has been the strongest one since 2009 when a 5.6 magnitude earthquake was recorded. Before that, the worst earthquake in the nearby region occurred in 1755. It almost killed around 50,000 people. The greatest number of people who died were from Morocco (10,000 people).
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