Seismic crisis on the island of São Jorge, Azores

 

This incident page has been created on 24th March 2022, in view of the developing situation on São Jorge, Azores including the activation of Regional Emergency Plan for Civil Protection of the Azores on 23rd march 2022.

Latest: data (updated 10 May 1800 hrs)

No of earthquakes since 19th March:  32,300

No of earthquakes felt: 270

Highest magnitude recorded: 3.8 mag –  21.56 hrs 29th March 2022 

Populations: The island of São Jorge has 8,373 people, according to provisional data from the 2021 Census. 3,437 inhabitants in the municipality of Calheta and 4,936 inhabitants in the municipality of Velas,

Official contacts/information:

SRPCBA – Civil Protection Azores  

CIVISA – Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre

Velas Municipality Facebook page       Calheta Municipality Facebook page

Earthquake awareness and preparation produced by ANEPC in English – Download here

A video in English by Geology Hub gives a useful overview of the seismic situation on Sao Jorge Island with historic context here. View here

Video – Preparation of Emergency evacuation kit (Civil Protection Azores)

Situation Report 9th May 2022

The population of the island of São Jorge felt two earthquakes in the last 24 hours, with magnitudes of 1.9 and 2.4 on the Richter scale, revealed the Center for Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance of the Azores (CIVISA).

According to CIVISA’s daily communiqué on the seismovolcanic crisis on the island of São Jorge, an earthquake was recorded this Monday at 6:03 am, with a magnitude of 2.4 on the Richter scale and an epicenter 1 km from Santo Amaro, which was felt by the population of Velas and Urzelina, with an intensity of III/IV on the Modified Mercalli scale.

On Sunday, at 2:37 pm, an earthquake of magnitude 1.9 on the Richter scale occurred, with an epicenter 1 km from Beira, felt only at Urzelina, with an intensity of III on the Modified Mercalli scale.

Since the seismovolcanic crisis began on the island of São Jorge, on March 19, more than 32,300 earthquakes have been recorded, of which “270 felt by the population”.

According to CIVISA, the seismic activity that has been recorded “from Ponta dos Rosais to the Norte Pequeno – Silveira area”, on the island of São Jorge, “continues above normal”.

The island maintains volcanic alert level V4 (eruption threat) out of a total of seven, where V0 stands for “resting state” and V6 “eruption in progress”.

Situation Report 2200 hrs Saturday 9th April 2022

Ponta Delgada, Azores, 09 Apr 2022 (Lusa) – The earthquakes on the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, were less frequent today, but may be under-evaluated due to wind and sea waves, according to the Center for Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance of the Azores (CIVISA).

The information was provided by the president of CIVISA, Rui Marques, in statements to journalists in the daily briefing on the situation of the seismovolcanic crisis in São Jorge, which has been registered since March 19.

According to Rui Marques, this decrease today follows “the trend” verified “since March 31 of the decrease in daily frequency”, with today, until early afternoon, “46 earthquakes recorded on the network since 00:00 “, but it is necessary to evaluate this evolution.

“This value is somehow underestimated”, taking into account the passage of the Evelyn Depression “over the island of São Jorge, and as such, in the face of the wind and the vibration that the vegetation induces in the soil, as well as the sea agitation” part of the “monitoring done by the seismometers is compromised”, he explained.

Rui Marques explained that “all that are low energy or low magnitude signals end up not being visible” to the operator who works “in the data acquisition center”.

“Therefore, we have a clear underestimation of the number of earthquakes since midnight today. This number certainly does not reflect what the real seismicity is”, he pointed out, also saying that it will be necessary to wait for Sunday to analyze the evolution.

To journalists, the president of CIVISA also said that on Sunday, the team of scientists from the Instituto Volcanológico das Canárias (INVOLCAN), Spain, will arrive on the island of São Jorge to integrate “the temperature measurement and soil degassing program”.

“And they come to give some support in what is the surrender of the teams, as CIVISA also did with seven missions to the island of La Palma at the time of the eruption”, he added.

Since the afternoon of March 19, seismic activity has been registered in the central part of the island of São Jorge, in a sector between Velas and Fajã do Ouvidor, and which “continues above normal”, according to CIVISA.

Situation Report 1800 hrs Saturday 9th April 2022

In a statement, to assess the situation at 10:00 am (11:00 am in Lisbon), the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) informs that “so far, around 238 earthquakes have been identified by the population”.

Since 10:00 pm on Friday and 10:00 am today, no earthquake has been felt, says CIVISA.

The last earthquake felt was at 15:58 on Friday, had magnitude 2.7 on the Richter scale and was felt by the population with intensity IV and III on the Modified Mercalli scale.

Also according to CIVISA, the seismic activity that has been registered since March 19 in the central part of the island of São Jorge, in a sector between Velas and Fajã do Ouvidor, “continues above normal”.

The seismic swarm under the island’s north western rift zone has decreased a lot during the past days, but it is still ongoing at lower levels.

Weak inflation also continued to be registered, which is why the official alert level remains at the second highest level of V4.

Map with table. The table showing the depth of earthquakes.

Meanwhile the IPMA extends bad weather warnings in the Azores until Monday

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) extended until Monday the yellow and orange warnings decreed for the Azores, which start this Friday due to precipitation, sea waves and wind throughout the archipelago.

On the islands of the Western group (Flores and Corvo), the orange warning of strong wind is scheduled for the period between 15:00 and 21:00 today, in force at the same level for the sea wave between 00:00 and 18:00 on Sunday.

As for the orange warning for the islands of the Central group (Faial, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico and Graciosa), it concerns the wind and covers the period between 6 pm today and 3 am on Saturday.

In these islands of the Central group, there is also a yellow warning for maritime agitation between 00:00 on Sunday and 00:00 on Monday.

Situation Report 1800 hrs Wednesday 6th April 2022

The island of São Jorge, in the Azores, recorded, in the last 24 hours, three earthquakes felt by the population, according to information collected by the Centre for Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance of the Azores (CIVISA).

From 10.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs on Tuesday, two earthquakes were felt, according to CIVISA.

One of them, of magnitude 2.2 on the Richter scale, was recorded on 5th April at 12:38 hrs in the parishes of Velas, São Amaro and Rosais, with intensity III, according to the Modified Mercali Scale.

Another, of magnitude 2.1, on 5th April was felt at 21:23 hrs with intensity III in the parishes of Velas and Santo Amaro.

In an update by CIVISA published on the Civil Protection page, it is said that, from 22.00 hrs on Tuesday to 10:00 hrs on Wednesday, “an earthquake was felt”. At 02:08 hrs it had a magnitude 1.7 on the Richter scale and was felt with intensity II on the Modified Mercali Scale.

These earthquakes are classified as “very minor”

The CIVISA map shows very few orange and red dots in or near the town of Velas, the main town on the island, in the last 1-5 days and in the last 24 hrs respectively. This is similar to other areas of the island, thus showing that the number of earthquakes felt by the population is slowing down.

The situation is being monitored closely and the population to remain attentive to the situation and calm.

The high seismicity continues on the Island of S. Jorge, in the Azores Archipelago, which has lasted since March 19th. The rate of seismic energy release has shown some reduction, despite remaining well above the normal values ​​for the island. The figures show the accumulated variation of energy, as well as the distribution of events as a function of magnitude. Both graphs indicate, for now, some stability.

One of the fundamental elements for the characterization of the earthquake-volcanic crisis of S. Jorge and that has been shared widely in social networks is related to the detection by the SENTINEL satellite of a deformation of the surface of the island of S. Jorge close to 8 cm, indicative of a magmatic intrusion whose depth is not yet well determined.

Situation Report 1800 hrs Tuesday 5th April 2022

Ponta Delgada, Azores, 05 Apr 2022 (Lusa) – A team of scientists from the Instituto Volcanológico das Canárias (INVOLCAN), Spain, traveled today to the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, to support Portuguese researchers and “intensify the work of Volcanic Surveillance”, was released today.

According to the Spanish entity, the INVOLCAN team will “collaborate with CIVISA [Center for Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance of the Azores] and IVAR [Institute for Research in Volcanology and Risk Assessment]” in “specific tasks related to geochemical monitoring to intensify the work of volcanic surveillance on the island of São Jorge”.

On the official page of INVOLCAN on the social network Facebook, the organization clarifies that the team will stay in São Jorge until April 28, and may be reinforced, if justified.

“Depending on the evolution of the current crisis in São Jorge, INVOLCAN will move more staff to continue the work”, he adds.

The “first team” is made up of three people: Maria Asensio Ramos, Juan Manuel Santana and Maud Smit.

The Spanish institute says that, since the beginning of the earthquake-volcanic crisis in São Jorge, it has been collaborating with CIVISA and IVAR, “both in the area of ​​geochemistry and in the area of ​​geophysics, to support the different scientific activities” that those Azorean entities are developing.

INVOLCAN notes that “this scientific collaboration is now possible thanks” to several community-funded projects.

Situation Report 0800 hrs Tuesday 5th April 2022

The president of Civil Protection stressed that the population must maintain a posture of “clam vigilance”.

The president of the Civil Protection of the Azores warned this Monday that the seismovolcanic crisis on the island of São Jorge “is not over” and could take days or months, during which the population must maintain “vigilant tranquility”.

Speaking to journalists after the daily briefing on the situation on the island of São Jorge, Eduardo Faria said that, despite the fact that “in recent days” there has been a lower pattern of seismic activity than in previous days, the population “should not let your guard down” and not fail to take precautionary measures into account.

“This was the message I wanted to convey so people don’t think this is over. This can take a day, a week, a month or a year”, maintained the president of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA).

The official recalled that that island of the Azores archipelago remains with the volcanic alert level V4 (threat of eruption) out of a total of seven, where V0 means “state of rest” and V6 “eruption in progress”.

“People will have to maintain their normality in terms of daily activities, but it is completely unpredictable, we cannot move forward the longer or if prevention actions can be reduced”, said Eduardo Faria.

Despite the decrease in the number of earthquakes felt by the population in recent days, the president of Civil Protection stressed that the population must remain calm, but with the vigilance and care that must be taken and that the authorities have transmitted.

As for the identification that the Civil Protection was making of the operable ports of São Jorge to prepare for a possible evacuation of the island by sea, due to the seismovolcanic crisis, the official said that this “information” had already been given to the Operational Command of the Azores. .

According to Eduardo Faria, on Sunday “the remaining “air reconnaissance, which were planned, were carried out through drones both to the fajãs and to the ports”.

“Some usable ports and also some circulation paths were identified in the event of activation of the evacuation plan, through the resources of the Navy and drones in the event of an evacuation by sea. Today this work will be continued”, he said.

Civil Protection was also “analysing” the images captured in the Rosais area to “understand the extent to which there is any fragility or any risk in terms of slope or possible collapses”. According to Eduardo Faria, these images will now be “analyzed by CIVISA to assess the stability and security conditions in that area after the whale watch”.

Asked if there is any decision in terms of closing the fajãs, the brigadier general clarified that “no fajã is closed”, although permanent visits to those places are to be avoided. “There is no decision in terms of closure or prohibition, there is only a question of prevention”, he pointed out.

Update 0800 hrs Monday 4th April 2022

The latest satellite data on uplift at Sao Jorge is now live! The center of the #volcanic intrusion of #magma still remains in the same location (where layers are radiating outwards). Secondary centers are now visible near Velas and the airport where quake clusters are centered.

Situation Report 2200 hrs Sunday 3rd April 2022

Ponta Delgada, Azores, May 03, 2022 (Lusa) – The Civil Protection of the Azores is “identifying” the operable ports of São Jorge to prepare for a possible evacuation of the island by sea due to the seismovolcanic crisis, the president of the service said today.

Speaking to journalists after the daily briefing on the situation in São Jorge, the president of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA), Eduardo Faria, advanced that operations are being carried out to “recognition of possible ports” on the south and north coast of São Jorge.

“We are identifying the ports that are operable for a possible evacuation by sea,” he said, adding that “a kind of registration” will be made for each of the ports.

That “register” will contain “all possible information” about the spaces, whether the “added values”, “difficulties”, “dangers” and “accessibilities”.

“So that, when it is necessary to use it, we know exactly what we are going to count on. Both those who are on land and those who come from the sea, whether the Navy or even people who can support this eventual evacuation by sea”, he justified.

After reconnaissance work was not carried out on Friday “due to weather conditions”, during Saturday “five to six ports were identified” as being “operable”.

“We still need to continue to recognize and validate the remaining ports, both on the south and north coasts. But we will continue this work during this day,” he pointed out.

Eduardo Faria revealed that Civil Protection will “finish” today an “emergency communications plan”, to prevent the “eventuality” of the island being “without the possibility of using mobile networks”.

Civil Protection is also “analysing” the images captured in the Rosais area to “understand the extent to which there is any fragility or any risk in terms of slope or possible collapses”.

“Reconnaissance” was also carried out in the fajãs of the island, to identify the “movement” and the “possible danger zones”.

“From the report we had, from the images that we were able to observe, the movement of the fajãs is very residual. Therefore, for now, it does not give us any particular concern. However, we will continue to watch,” she declared.

Despite the decrease in the number of earthquakes felt by the population in recent days, the brigadier general warned that the island’s seismicity remains at “completely unusual numbers”.

“May the population not be deceived by this lull. (…) Once again it is reiterated that the rules of self-protection must be maintained”, he appealed.

The island of São Jorge, in the Azores, accounted for more than 26,000 earthquakes, around 225 of which were felt by the population, since the beginning of the seismovolcanic crisis on March 19, according to the most recent official data.

Between 10:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am today, no earthquake shock was felt by the inhabitants.

The most energetic earthquake since the beginning of the crisis had a magnitude of 3.8 on the Richter scale.

Situation Report 1200 hrs Saturday 2nd April 2022

Three earthquakes were felt by the population in the last 24 hours on the island of São Jorge, Azores, bringing to 224 the total number of earthquakes perceived by the inhabitants since the beginning of the seismic crisis, CIVISA said this Saturday.

Updates from the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA) indicate that, between 10:00 and 22:00 on Friday, two earthquakes of magnitude 2 and 1.9 were felt in the parish of Velas by the population with intensity III on the Modified Mercali Scale.

Between 10:00 pm on Friday and 10:00 am this Saturday, an earthquake of magnitude 1.7 was felt in Ribeira Seca (Calheta), with an epicentre 3 kilometres north-northwest of Urzelina. “So far, around 224 earthquakes felt by the population have been identified”, indicates CIVISA, in the update made at 10:00 hrs on Saturday. CIVISA states that, since March 19, the seismic activity recorded in the central part of the island of São Jorge, in a sector between Velas and Fajã do Ouvidor, “continues above normal”.

The most energetic earthquake occurred on March 29, at 21:56 (22:56 in Lisbon), with magnitude 3.8 on the Richter scale.

President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA Eduardo Faria said that “yesterday, a coordination meeting was held with the marines who operate the drones , to carry out reconnaissance in the ports of the island”, in the event of an eventual need to evacuate the population, as well as such as aerial reconnaissance of the fajãs and surrounding areas that allow familiarization of these theatres of operations in the event of a possible rescue intervention or need to clear the roads.

On the other hand, “a meeting was held with the security forces, in order to guarantee the security of the sorting and accommodation points, both for those who are working in these places and for all those who may receive logistical support, a since they are considered critical areas, in the event of population evacuation”.

“We are not going to let our guard down because there are fewer earthquakes. I ask the population to maintain a vigilant tranquility. But there is no reason for additional concern because there are more resources on the ground”, guaranteed Eduardo Faria to journalists, in the daily ‘briefing’ to update data on the seismic crisis on that island in the Azores archipelago.

Volcano Discover 1800 hrs 1^st April – The earthquake swarm continues but with reduced intensity. Only about 10 quakes above magnitude 2.0 occurred in the past 24 hours, although micro-seismic activity remains elevated, and seems to be increasing in the past hours.

Including quakes too small to be localized, official data speak of more than 25,000 tremors in total having occurred since the start of the seismic crisis.

In the absence of other published data, it is impossible to interpret the situation well or make well-founded predictions, but the scenario of a volcanic eruption in a near future seems to become less likely if seismic activity ceases. However, the official alert level remains at V4 (on a scale of 1-6).

 

Situation report 1800 hrs Friday 1st April 2022

 

“24,919 earthquakes were registered until 10:30 am today”, Rui Marques President of CIVISA told journalists, in the daily briefing on the island of São Jorge about the seismovolcanic crisis that began about two weeks ago.

From 00:00 today until around 10:00 am, “977 events were recorded, none of them felt by the population”, added Rui Marques, warning that the daily frequency of earthquakes remains “much higher” than usual in the Azores archipelago.

Asked whether the fact that there are fewer earthquakes felt and that there has been a reduction in the number of events compared to the first days can be considered “good news”, the president of CIVISA warned that there is still “a very short time series”. ” to draw conclusions.

Referring to the reduction in the daily average of earthquakes observed in recent days, Rui Marques pointed out that the average is now “800 earthquakes per day“, that is, “it is still a daily frequency far above what is normal in the Azores”.

Most of the seismicity on the island of São Jorge is located “in the volcanic fissure system of Manadas”, between the village of Velas and Fajã do Ouvidor, he noted.

At Ponta dos Rosais, seven events were recorded, “with less depth”, the most recent of which was identified “at 9:30 am today, with a magnitude of 1.4”, he added.

For now, he said, “it is difficult to understand” the connection between the area where the seismic crisis occurred since March 19 and the “seven events in Ponta dos Rosais”.

Eduardo Faria, president of the Azorean Civil Protection, added that, “in a preventive way”, the interdiction of Farol dos Rosais was determined, in coordination with the municipality of Velas.

The passage is blocked “from Vigia da Baleia” and farmers who use the land for grazing animals “have already been warned” that it is not advisable to pass or remain in that area, he added.

Also according to the Civil Protection official, on Thursday there was a “significant reduction in the number of earthquakes”, in a “pattern change” for which “there is, for now, no explanation”.

Situation report  1300 hrs Friday 1st April 2022

Earthquakes felt on the island of São Jorge 

The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) reports that seismic activity has been registered since 16:05 (local time = UTC-1) on March 19 in the central part of the island of São Jorge, more specifically along a strip heading WNW-ESE, in a sector between Velas and Fajã do Ouvidor, it continues above normal.

The most energetic earthquake occurred on March 29 at 21:56 (local time = UTC) and had a magnitude of 3.8 (Richter).

So far, around 221 earthquakes felt by the population have been identified. From 10:00 pm on March 31st to 10:00 am on April 1st, no earthquake was felt.

CIVISA continues to monitor the evolution of the situation, issuing new communiqués if necessary.

Update 1300hrs Wednesday 30th March 2022

The opinion of geologist Fernando Ornelas Marques is shared by the president of the Civil Protection of the Azores who reiterated, this Wednesday, the need for the population of São Jorge to “stay alert” to the possibility of a greater intensity earthquake or volcanic eruption.

According to the President SRPCBA Eduardo Faria, the largest magnitude earthquake recorded in this seismovolcanic crisis was recorded at 21:56 (22:56 Lisbon time) on Tuesday and had its epicenter in the sea, about two kilometers from the village of Velas, without causing “ material or human damage”.

This earthquake “follows what we have been transmitting that this crisis may involve the possibility of an eruption or a stronger earthquake” , said the president of the SRPCBA, who was speaking after the Civil Protection ‘briefing’ that takes place daily on the island. of Saint George.

“We have to be prepared for an earthquake of greater intensity and that could cause material damage” , said Eduardo Faria to journalists.

Also according to the official, the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) also relies on information from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel satellite on the current seismovolcanic crisis, which should make new data available on Saturday.

“This satellite passes through the space of the region [of the Azores] every 12 days and, in principle, Saturday will be the vertical passage over the island of São Jorge and we will be able to have additional data and images that allow a deeper and more accurate image of what has been happening”, stressed the president of the SRPCBA.

Situation Report 0800 hrs Wednesday 30th March 2022

An earthquake occurred on 29th March at 21:56 (22:56 Lisbon time) and had its epicentre in the sea, near the town of Velas.

According to the IPMA a light earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale was felt this Tuesday in São Jorge, the strongest since March 19, when the seismovolcanic crisis began on this Azorean island. CIVISA measured it at 3.8 Mag. The depth was 10 kms which was relatively shalow

A source from the Azores Regional Fire and Civil Protection Service told Lusa that “there is no record of damage”.

According to data from the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), the earthquake occurred at 21:56 (22:56 Lisbon time) and had its epicentre in the sea, 1.5 South/South east of Velas.

Since the seismovolcanic crisis began, the most energetic earthquake occurred at 18:41 (19:41 Lisbon time) on March 19, with a magnitude of 3.3 on the Richter scale. The island of São Jorge has recorded more than 20,000 earthquakes, more than 200 of which have been felt by the population, since the beginning of the seismic crisis on March 19, according to official data.

The number of registered earthquakes is more than double the total recorded in the entire Autonomous Region of the Azores during the year 2021.

The island is at volcanic alert level V4 (threat of eruption) out of a total of seven, where V0 stands for “rest state” and V6 “eruption in progress”.

According to latest calculations, the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN) estimated that as much as 20 million cubic meters of magma have intruded under the island of São Jorge since last March 19. Map Source: Copernicus #Sentinel1 interferogram (March 15 – March 27)

Situation Report 1300 hrs Tuesday 29th Match 2022

In a statement published on its website, CIVISA informs that from 10:00 pm on Monday to 10:00 am today, an earthquake was felt on the island of São Jorge, with magnitude 2.1 on the Ricther scale and maximum intensity III/IV on the modified Mercalli scale.

According to the information, the earthquake felt was recorded at 22:34 on Monday and was felt in Rosais and Velas.

CIVISA, which continues to monitor the evolution of the situation, also adds that seismic activity that has been registered since 4:05 pm on March 19 in the central part of the island of São Jorge, in a sector between Velas and Fajã do Ouvidor, “remains above normal”.

So far, around 209 earthquakes felt by the population have been identified.

In an informative note about the activity of Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo (HDES), the largest health unit in the Azores explains that, with the activation of the Regional Civil Protection Plan, it sent a first intervention team to the island in an emergency situation. .

“This team was accompanied by a variety of equipment and material, which will be donated to the São Jorge Island Health Unit as a reinforcement of prevention, including several rapid intervention drugs, vacuum stretcher and fans”, reads the note.

There is a very expressive window in terms of scenarios, from when nothing happens to a very serious situation, there is a wide spectrum of scenarios, [but] the situation is, at the moment, apparently more stabilized”, declared the Secretary of State for the Internal Administration, Patricia Gaspar today.

Speaking to Portuguese journalists in Brussels, at the end of an extraordinary Council for the Internal Affairs of the European Union, the official added that there was “a plan developed in 2018, a specific plan for intervention in the Azores in the event of an earthquake, which allows for the mobilization of a series of means , whether in the area of ​​health, or in the area of ​​search and rescue in collapsed structures, even decision support”.

Civil Protection Exercise ‘Touro 22’ postponed due to seismic crisis

The ‘Touro 22’ exercise, which was scheduled to take place between the 1st and 3rd of April on the island of Santa Maria, was postponed, following the seismic crisis currently registered on the island of São Jorge.

The exercise, organized by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), will be rescheduled for a date to be announced in due course.

This year’s edition plans to simulate an adverse weather scenario, with the issuance of a red level weather warning for the parameters of precipitation, sea waves and wind, with a special focus on Santa Maria, with the objective of testing the response capacity and articulation between the various civil protection agents.

Situation Report 1600 Hrs Monday 28th March 2022

The seismic disturbance remains unusual on the Azorean island of São Jorge and the alert level remains at V4.

“We continue with unusual seismic activity in this volcanic fissure system at Manadas. Since midnight today [Monday], we recorded 614 earthquakes until 11:00 am, when we started the briefing”, says Rui Marques , president of the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (Civisa) .

“We currently have 207 earthquakes already felt by the population, of which three have already been felt today Monday 28^th March, since midnight”, he adds.

Four earthquakes were felt on the island of São Jorge were felt by the population on Sunday.

The number of registered earthquakes is more than double the total recorded in the entire region of the Azores during the year 2021.

Around 2500 people have already left the municipality of Velas, the center of the seismic crisis, of which 1500 by air and sea, and the rest to the neighboring municipality of Calheta, considered safer by experts.

Over the weekend the Regional Government had decided to evacuate the fajãs of the municipality of Velas, in São Jorge due to the existing seismic crisis together with the storm warning.

And the real risk for these special places was proved again by a landslide, caused by the heavy rain that fell over the weekend, which closed the access to Fajã dos Cubres.

Located on the other side of the island (compared to Velas), ten people were stranded at Caldeira de Santo Cristo, in São Jorge.

The mayor of Calheta, Décio Pereira, says that people have all been contacted and indicate that they have no urgency to leave.

The “higher energy earthquake” continues to be the one that occurred on March 19, at 6:41 pm (7:41 pm in Lisbon), with a magnitude of 3.3 on the Richter scale.

Situation Report 1800hrs Sunday 27th March 2022 

The President of the Government of the Azores this Sunday conveyed a message of “normality” to the inhabitants of the municipality of Velas, assuring that alerts will be issued if there are changes in the seismic crisis that began on March 19.

“If any change in circumstances happens, we will be here, with the maximum vigilance that we are ensuring, from the outset with the scientific monitoring of CIVISA, and the appropriate alerts will be made”, said José Manuel Bolieiro, after the daily briefing for the coordination of the Protection Civil.

According to the head of the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), since the beginning of the crisis in the Manadas volcanic fissure system, more than 14,000 earthquakes have already been recorded on the island of São Jorge, which did not cause damage.

According to Rui Marques, all these earthquakes were of low magnitude, with about 200 being felt by the population.

The number of earthquakes recorded within the scope of this crisis is more than double the total number of earthquakes recorded in the entire autonomous region of the Azores, – in the 50 seismogenic zones that CIVISA monitors – throughout 2021.

Velas currently has half the inhabitants, after the rest have moved, as a precaution, to the neighbouring municipality and to other islands in the Azores. “About 2,500 people have left the municipality” since the crisis began, on March 19, the Mayor of Velas told Lusa on Saturday.

According to Luís Silveira, about 1,500 inhabitants left, by sea and air, to other islands in the Azores, most of them to Pico and Faial, but also to Terceira and São Miguel, where they stay with family and friends. The rest chose to go to the municipality of Calheta, considered by the experts who are monitoring the crisis as safer.

Speaking to journalists today, the president of the Government of the Azores assured that “there was no official guidance for any exodus” of population from the municipality of Velas.

This exodus is the sole and exclusive responsibility of the voluntary, personal and family decision”, said José Manuel Bolieiro, noting that his presence in Velas in recent days, where he is accompanied by the regional secretary responsible for regional Civil Protection, is the “demonstration of the normality that it is possible to maintain in the village of Velas”.

“People did not need, by official guidance, to leave, nor do we recommend leaving. We do not block any exit because it is the exercise of freedom and mobility of any person”, said the head of the Azorean executive.

 

Situation Report 1800 hrs Friday 26th March 2022

The Army is preparing a meeting and distribution point for displaced people on the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, due to the seismovolcanic crisis that has been going on for a week, the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGFA) said today.

“Preparation is underway at the Army’s Garrison Regiment nº1, in Angra do Heroísmo [Terceira Island], the material and personnel necessary for the activation, in São Jorge, of a Point of Assembly of Displaced Persons, which will support local and regional entities in the processing of citizens who have left their homes, for safety reasons and in response to the determination of the regional authorities”, advanced the EMGFA, in a press release.

According to the same statement, “this capacity will be designed for the island of São Jorge”, on Sunday, “using the Ocean Patrol Vessel ‘Setúbal’”.

Since March 19, around 12,700 earthquakes have been recorded on the island of São Jorge, more than double the number of earthquakes recorded in the Azores in 2021. According to the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), 187 earthquakes were felt by the population.

According to EMGFA, on Friday, “an Armed Forces liaison team, composed of four soldiers, supported by a light tactical vehicle” arrived on the island of São Jorge, which developed “contacts with local and regional Civil Protection structures”. ” and recognized “the locations for the installation of the means of support of the Armed Forces that will be designed for the island”.

Since Sunday, the Armed Forces have been collaborating in the response to the seismovolcanic crisis. That same day, the Air Force transported a team of CIVISA experts to São Jorge, in a C-295 military aircraft.

On Tuesday, the Ocean Patrol Vessel “Setúbal” was positioned in the central group of the Azores, which includes the island of São Jorge, and “the readiness status of the Air Force C-295 and EH-101 aircraft was increased, installed at Air Base nº 4, on Terceira Island”.

On Friday, an Air Force C-130 aircraft transported from Lisbon “material provided by the Portuguese Red Cross, namely field beds, mattresses and blankets”.

Due to adverse weather conditions, the material was unloaded on Terceira Island and should be transferred to São Jorge today in a C-295 aircraft.

The Operational Command of the Azores and the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGFA) activated their contingency plans on Wednesday, putting all military personnel in the Armed Forces based in the Azores and “a significant set of forces of the Armed Forces Immediate Reaction Force”.

Update 0700 hrs 26th March 2022

Bad weather will affect the measurement of gases on the island of São Jorge

CIVISA – The operations coordinator of the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center in São Jorge acknowledged today that bad weather will affect the measurement of gases on the island, which is undergoing a seismovolcanic crisis.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Fátima Viveiros stressed, however, that she believes it is possible to monitor a possible “huge increase in carbon dioxide”, despite the adverse weather conditions felt on the island.

“[In bad weather], in terms of gases, we were only able to make half of the profile we would like because when it rains the ground is so wet that the gas does not come out. It gets there to the surface layers of the terrain and it’s all, in common parlance, soggy and doesn’t rise to the surface,” he explained.

“If I had been in a normal monitoring period, I would not have taken measurements today because I know that those values ​​are not the best possible. Given the circumstances, we did it anyway, but the figures turn out to be slightly conditioned by the rain and wind conditions,” he said.

CIVISA, she said, is currently installing receivers to analyze the “deformation of the terrain” and “reinforce the permanent stations”, both for seismology and for crustal deformation.

So far, the team has not yet registered any “significant variations” in the emission of gases, but the coordinator highlighted that it is not possible to guarantee that “everything is fine”.

Fátima Viveiros revealed that CIVISA has analyzed areas that have been reported by the population as having a “smelling sulphur”, but the researcher warned that, in the face of a situation such as a seismovolcanic crisis, people “end up noticing smells that were always there”. “We cannot ignore any sign that is given to us. Yesterday [Thursday] afternoon we went to take measurements in a building in Velas that we were told that it possibly had sulfur smells, but when we arrived at the building they said it could even be from the pits and we didn’t detect anything”, he said.

Update 2200 hrs 25th March 2022

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said today that he is following the seismovolcanic crisis on the Azorean island of São Jorge, where he intends to travel soon, considering that “there is no reason to for insecurity”.

“When I spoke to him [the president of the Regional Government] today, he was still in São Jorge and I think very soon I will go to São Jorge too,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told journalists.

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, said today that the President of the Republic “does not exclude the possibility” of visiting, in the coming days, the island of São Jorge, the target of a seismovolcanic crisis.

Situation Report 1700 hrs 25th March 2022

 

Municipality of Velas – Despacho n.º 506-A/2022 de 25 de março de 2022 (Supplement) In Portuguese here

The alert situation for the municipality of Velas, on the island of São Jorge, which will remain in force until 11:59 pm on March 28.

2 – Relocate all people with reduced mobility, as well as those dependent on third parties for basic activities and those who live in buildings without guarantees of earthquake-resistant construction.

3 – Limit circulation to all fajãs in the municipality of Velas;

4 – The evacuation of residents of all fajãs in the municipality of Velas.

5 – The measures provided for in the previous numbers are implemented in accordance with the Regional Plan of Emergency and Civil Protection of the Azores and the Municipal Civil Protection Plan of Velas.

 

No further Information notes have been issued by the Civil Protection authority since 7/2022 published at 7.24pm on  Wednesday 23rd March.

On 25th March up to 0730 hrs, there have been eight earthquakes registered on the CIVISA portal since midnight and there were 16 yesterday of 1.6 mag and above. The earthquake map appears to show a generally slowing down in the number of earthquakes registered.

However, the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro stated today that the inhabitants of the fajãs of the municipality of Velas, in São Jorge, will be removed, and going to those areas will be prohibited due to the seismovolcanic crisis,

“A situation of alert was declared for a very specific reference to ensure that there are restrictions on access to the fajãs of the municipality of Velas on the island of São Jorge, as well as the evacuation of their residents”, he told journalists, in Velas, in the balance of the visit. The island.

He added that the decision is made based on the alert statement and that it will be in effect from 00:00 on Saturday until 23:59 on Monday.

The ban and evacuation of the fajãs is justified by the levels of seismicity and by the “danger expected for Saturday and Sunday morning” due to weather conditions, explained José Manuel Bolieiro.

The measure, which until now was a recommendation, will be mandatory: “The alert declaration has, in the terms of the civil protection bases law, as well as the regional legislative decree that regulates civil protection in the Azores, this effectiveness that is decisive and therefore mandatory. Anyone who does not comply is in disobedience”, said the head of the Azorean executive.

The island of São Jorge has more than seven dozen fajãs – small plains by the sea that originated from landslides or lava – which are, since 2016, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Culture and places most sought after by tourists.

The president of the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), Rui Marques, warned today that the rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, combined with the seismic crisis, could cause landslides in São Jorge.

“A situation of alert was declared for a very specific reference to ensure that there are restrictions on access to the fajãs of the municipality of Velas on the island of São Jorge, as well as the evacuation of their residents”, he told journalists, in Velas, in the balance of the visit. The island.

The regional leader stated that the decision is made based on the alert statement and that it will be in effect from 00:00 on Saturday until 23:59 on Monday.

The ban and evacuation of the fajãs is justified by the levels of seismicity and by the “danger expected for Saturday and Sunday morning” due to weather conditions, explained José Manuel Bolieiro.

The measure, which until now was a recommendation, will be mandatory: “The alert declaration has, in the terms of the civil protection bases law, as well as the regional legislative decree that regulates civil protection in the Azores, this effectiveness that is decisive and therefore mandatory. Anyone who does not comply is in disobedience”, said the head of the Azorean executive.

The island of São Jorge has more than seven dozen fajãs – small plains by the sea that originated from landslides or lava – which are, since 2016, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Culture and places most sought after by tourists.

The president of the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), Rui Marques, warned today that the rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, combined with the seismic crisis, could cause landslides in São Jorge.

According to the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), seismic activity on the island of São Jorge “continues above normal”.

In view of this scenario, the Azorean executive recommended that the population with greater vulnerabilities in the main affected area on the island of São Jorge should leave their homes. Meanwhile, the 85 users of the João Inácio de Sousa Rest Home, located in Velas, have already been removed and taken to Calheta.

The president of the Azorean parliament called for “complying with the instructions of those responsible for Civil Protection” and for “maintaining calm”, adding that he has been following the development of the situation through direct contacts with the competent authorities.

Luís Garcia stressed that “all authorities are articulated” and “doing what is necessary and possible to do at this time, to prevent what may happen”.

 

 

ANEPC SUPPORT PLAN UPDATE

The president of ANEPC, Duarte da Costa, also told journalists that Civil Protection has been monitoring the situation for the last three days, but due “to the evolution of the situation and in conversation with the presidents of IPMA and the Regional Government” it was decided to activate the situation on Wednesday the extraordinary CCON (National Operational Coordination Center) “just to deal with the Azores issue”, namely the type of response.

Duarte da Costa explained that Wednesday’s meeting also served to update the on-demand response plan for a support mission to an autonomous region.

“This plan was from 2019 and has now been updated with a date of 2022 and the scenarios are presented, fundamentally of equipment, personnel and volume of what is help that can be given, not only from the perspective of ANEPC, but also from the other agents, INEM firefighters , GNR and PSP”, he stressed.

 

“Following the seismic crisis on the island of São Jorge, and according to technical information from the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA) and the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the Regional Service of Civil Protection and Firefighters of the Azores (SRPCBA) makes public the activation of the Regional Emergency Plan for Civil Protection of the Azores with immediate effect.

It is further informed that, considering that the present situation implies the adoption of special measures, under the terms foreseen in the Regional Emergency Plan for Civil Protection of the Azores, the civil protection agents of the Region necessary for the work to resolve the occurrences are activated, without prejudice of decisions taken by the Relief Operations Commander.

All entities and persons with a special duty of collaboration under the terms of the same plan are also called upon”.

Minutes after the release: The regional secretary for Health of the Azores, Clélio Meneses, who oversees Civil Protection, said at a press conference in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island. “The rise to level V4 of volcanic alert has been reported, which means a real possibility of an eruption”.

In view of this scenario, the Azorean executive recommended that the population with greater vulnerabilities in the main affected area on the island of São Jorge should leave their homes.

“We advise people who live between Velas and Fajã das Almas to move from their homes, especially people with reduced mobility, people dependent on third parties for their basic activities, people living in buildings without guarantees earthquake safety and residents in areas close to slopes or cliffs that are particularly dangerous for landslides or landslides, such as the fajãs”, he said.

Calheta is preparing to receive the inhabitants of Velas in case they need to be evacuated. Parish councils, recreational societies and houses in Espírito Santo are being prepared to welcome people.

The Velas Health Centre, which is closer to the epicentres of the earthquakes, will be transferred to the Calheta Health Centre, on the other end of the island of São Jorge, “ in order to prevent any situation that makes movement, mobility and some evacuation more difficult”.

It is also being identified, in collaboration with the Municipality of Velas, “the number of people with affected mobility, in order to have increased protection”.

Although all earthquakes have tectonic origin and there is no sign of volcanic activity, the most critical area is in the municipality of Velas, where just over 5,000 people reside. The mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, said yesterday that one of the options if necessary would be to rehouse the neighbours in the northern part of the island”.

The Prime Minister António Costa, announced on his Twitter account that the Portuguese government has made available to the Azores “all the necessary means”, such as the Armed Forces or the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), after discussing the situation with the president of the archipelago, José Manuel Bolieiro.

According to CIVISA, all recorded earthquakes are at a depth of between 6 and 12 kilometres, although the authorities do not rule out that the situation could be altered and there is a volcanic risk”.

Tomorrow 24th March at 10.00 hrs – The President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, travels to the island of São Jorge, in the context of the seismic crisis. Yesterday he said that “There is, for now, no record of elevation of the magma blanket. But between the facts and the projectable scenarios, we have to strike a balance. It is a worrying situation, as the entire epicentre of these earthquakes is on the island, not in the sea”, said José Manuel Bolieiro.

“Opening fissures can allow volcanic magma to find, in the fissures, an opportunity to rise”, he observed, noting that he had, at the University of the Azores meeting with the Center for Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance of the Azores (CIVISA).

“I am anxious, like any Azorean, with the seismic situation that is being experienced on the island of São Jorge”.

Around 700 earthquakes were recorded in the last 24 hours on the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, all of low magnitude, 48 were felt, according to the Sismovulcanic Information and Surveillance Center of the Azores (CIVISA).

Monitor Bulletins here:

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The islands lie in a northwest-southeast direction, and are divided into three groups: northwest, central and eastern; with the westernmost point (Flores and Corvo islands) already located on the North American tectonic plate.

This complex geological and geodynamic setting of the Azores explains the significant seismic and volcanic activity, including eruptions and degassing processes, registered in the archipelago.

Since the settlement of the Azores, in the second quarter of the 15th century, more than 30 important earthquakes and countless seismic crises were registered.

The first reported destructive earthquake took place on October 22nd of 1522, Vila Franca do Campo, the capital of the Azores at that time, was completely destroyed and more than 5,000 people died, many of which buried by major debris flows associated with two main landslides triggered by the earthquake.

The most recent devastating events were the January 1st, 1980, 7.2 magnitude earthquake which affected Terceira, São Jorge and Graciosa islands and the July 9th, 1998, 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Faial and Pico islands.

Many of the recorded historical eruptions in the Azores region were of submarine origin. In all the Azoreans memory stays the 1957-58 volcanic eruption of Capelinhos Volcano, close to the western coast of Faial Island. A major consequence of this eruption was the immigration of more than 4,000 people to the United States.

The Azores seismological monitoring network is composed by nearly 40 short-period and broadband seismic stations. Portable seismic stations and seismic arrays are used to complement the permanent observation network and follow specific seismic and/or volcanic crises.

Back in 2019 it was Faial’s island (same group as S. Jorge) that had a similar crisis – the news then were “Azorean island of Faial has been plunged into what seismologists call “a full seismic crisis” since the beginning of November. Since November 3, the western part of Faial has been experiencing a “slight increase” in seismic activity. This is the third increase in seismic activity in this area this year. “We are not experiencing with this increased activity something that is different or rare,” said Rui Marques stressing that the Azores, “being located in a triple junction of tectonic plates register a lot of seismicity from time to time. People should maintain their serenity, live their normal life, and be aware of official information,”