Azores Situation Report Wednesday 12th February 2025
Man’s body found near Lagoa pools
The body of a man was found this Tuesday east of the Lagoa pools, on the island of São Miguel, with the causes of the occurrence unknown, the National Maritime Authority said.
The Port Captain and Local Commander of the Maritime Police of Ponta Delgada and Vila do Porto, António Peiriço, explained that the alert was given, via 112, by a member of the public who had seen the body of a man “east of the Lagoa pools”.
According to the official, resources and elements from the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Ponta Delgada and the Lifeguard Station were immediately dispatched to the site, and the body was transported to the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, in Ponta Delgada, at around 1:00 pm.
António Peiriço added that the causes of the man’s death, “still unidentified”, are unknown.
Earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale felt in Graciosa
An earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale was felt on the island of Graciosa this Monday, reported the Azores Seismo-volcaeic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA)
According to CIVISA, the earthquake occurred at 10:40 am and had its epicentre approximately 22 kilometres west of Vitória, on the island of Graciosa.
“According to the information available so far, the earthquake was felt with maximum intensity IV (Modified Mercalli Scale) in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Guadalupe, São Mateus and Luz (municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa)”, adds CIVISA.
Azores to receive 10 million euros to manage marine protected areas
The Azores will receive 10 million euros to help implement the project to expand marine protected areas and to support the restructuring of the fishing sector, according to a memorandum signed on the island of Faial.
“The Blue Azores program will be supported with funding for its implementation of at least 10.4 million dollars (10 million euros), which will be invested over the next five years.
This funding will allow the region to “effectively implement” the network of marine protected areas, which now covers 30% of the Azores sea, following the approval, in October 2024, of a regional decree that created “the largest network of marine protected areas in the North Atlantic”, with more than 287 thousand square kilometres.