Azores Situation Report Wednesday February 22nd 2023
4.1 earthquake on the Richter scale felt off the island of Santa Maria in the Azores
An earthquake of 4.1 on the Richter scale was felt on the island of Santa Maria, in Vila do Porto, São Pedro, Almagreira and Santo Espírito, revealed today the Civil Protection.
On the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service website, it is reported that the earthquake was recorded by the Azores Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA), at 22:40 local time on Monday (23:40 in Lisbon) , with an epicentre about 51 kilometres east of Santo Espírito, on the island of Santa Maria, located in the eastern group of the Azorean archipelago.
“According to the information available so far, the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity III/IV (Modified Mercalli Scale) in Vila do Porto, São Pedro, Almagreira and Santo Espírito (municipality of Vila do Porto)”, adds the Protection Civil.
The Modified Mercalli Scale measures the “degrees of intensity and respective description” and, when there is an intensity of IV, considered “Moderate”, “parked cars shake”, “windows, doors and dishes shake” and “glasses and dishes collide or jingle”, walls or wooden structures can creak, reveals the Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) on its website.
With intensity III, considered Weak, the shock is “felt inside the house” and “the hanging objects sway”, feeling a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles”, according to the IPMA.
Azores promote literary contest in mother tongue for immigrants.
A literary contest will distinguish original literary texts in the Azores, written in the mother tongue of immigrants residing in the region, an initiative that aims to promote “interculturality” and “greater knowledge about the different communities existing in the archipelago”, was announced today.
The literary contest “Saudades da Terra”, in the area of immigration, is promoted by the regional directorate of the Communities, in partnership with the air carrier SATA Azores Airlines, as part of the celebrations of the International Mother Language Day, marked annually on February 21st.
According to a press release published on the Regional Government’s website, the initiative is aimed at all immigrants residing in the Azores.
The works in competition must be “texts in any literary genre, original and unpublished”, which address “the personal perspective of the competitors, with a minimum age of 18, about the host society”, adds the Azorean Government (PSD/CDS- PP/PPM).
The competition aims to promote interculturality and encourage greater knowledge about the different communities and nationalities existing in the archipelago, through the production of literary texts, written in their mother tongue, which convey the vision of their authors about the Azores.
The winner will be awarded an airline ticket for two people, departing from any Azorean airport to all destinations operated by SATA Azores Airlines.
Applications must be sent by April 21, 2023, using a form to the email address ‘ saudadesdaterra.drc@azores.gov.pt ‘.
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and later recognized by the UN in 2002, with the aim of “protecting and safeguarding all languages spoken in the world, honouring cultural traditions and respecting linguistic diversity”, stresses the Directorate Regional Communities.
Iberia with flights from Ponta Delgada in summer
Spanish airline Iberia is planning flights between Faro and Ponta Delgada in the summer of 2023.
Antonio Linares, sales director for Iberia in Spain and Portugal, has said that he is “moderately optimistic” for 2023 and that the airline wants to maintain its commitment to the Portuguese market. Thus, for Portugal, the Spanish airline wants to maintain a “broad and stable flight schedule” this year.
In the summer of 2023, normal operations will continue from Lisbon, Porto and Funchal, but Iberia destinations will also be reached from Faro and Ponta Delgada; more details will be revealed soon, guarantees