An 2.6 Richter scale earthquake, with its epicenter between Monchique and Portimão, was registered at 16:50 this afternoon, Monday 10th October.
The epicenter was located about 10 kilometres south of Monchique and 9 kilometres north of Portimão and was picked up by the Mainland Seismic Network, according the Portuguese weather service.
The earthquake, some 30 kilometres deep, was felt in the areas of Lagoa, Silves and Portimão.
One of the anti-oil protestors’ concerns is that should fracking commence on the Algarve’s land, the frequency and size of earthquakes will increase.
There were several other earthquakes in the region today with one between the Algarve and Morocco (1.8), to the southwest of Cape St Vincent (1.5), and to the west of S. Brás de Alportel (2) although these are unlikely to have been felt.
On August 1st, an earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale was registered 110 kilometres south of Faro but nothing was felt on the mainland.
On August 19th, tremors caused by an earthquake under the ocean to the west of Peniche (pictured) shook locals along the immediate west coast and as far away as Lisbon,
This earthquake measured 4.1 on the Richter scale and took place in the middle of the area covered by the Mexinhao oil exploration concession, owned by Galp/Repsol/Partex and Kosmos.
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