An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.7 on the Richter scale, with an epicenter about four kilometers east of Serreta, on the island of Terceira, was felt today at 12:29 p.m. (13:29 Lisbon time), according to IPMA.
The Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA) reports that the event caused no personal or material damage and was felt with a maximum intensity of III/IV on the modified Mercalli scale, in the parish of Raminho, in Terceira.
According to the Richter scale, earthquakes are classified according to their magnitude as micro (less than 2.0), very small (2.0-2.9), small (3.0-3.9), slight (4.0-4.9), moderate (5.0-5.9), strong (6.0-6.9), large (7.0-7.9), important (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9.0-9.9) and extreme (when greater than 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures “degrees of intensity and their description”.
With an intensity of III, considered to be weak, the tremor was felt inside the house and hanging objects rattled, with a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles”, the IPMA reveals on its website.