Azores earthquake activity triggers nearly 100 aftershocks

A significant earthquake with a magnitude between 5.1 and 5.2 on the Richter scale struck the Azores archipelago, specifically affecting the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, and Santa Maria. The tremor, which occurred near Ginetes in the Ponta Delgada municipality, caused no reported casualties or material damage according to the Regional Civil Protection and Firefighters Service (SRPCBA).

Following the main event, the Azores Seismic and Volcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) reported nearly one hundred aftershocks, some exceeding a magnitude of 3. While seismic activity has shown a tendency to stabilize, experts warn that the system may take time to reach a new equilibrium and that further tremors felt by the population are possible.

Additional seismic activity, including a magnitude 4.4 tremor, has been recorded in the same region near the Hirondelle Trench, a submarine depression delimited by tectonic faults. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have advised the population to maintain serenity and follow official safety protocols.