An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale was felt with the most intensity in Albufeira and Faro this morning, at around 05:18 am.
According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), there was no personal or material damage caused by the earthquake.
The epicentre was around 75 kilometres south of Faro and was recorded at 05:18 at the stations of the Mainland Seismic Network, and registered a maximum intensity III/IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipalities of Albufeira and Faro. The earthquake was felt with less intensity in Loulé area.
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 (greater than 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures "degrees of intensity and their description".
With an intensity III, considered weak, the tremor is felt inside the house and hanging objects sway, feeling a "vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles", say the IPMA on their website.
Maximum intensity IV (moderate) and V (strong) on the modified Mercalli scale means that the vibration is similar to that caused by passing vehicles, parked cars shake, windows and doors shake and is felt outside the home.
Source and photo https://www.ipma.pt/pt/index.html
