Earthquake in Lisbon measuring 4.4 felt in Andalucía
The city’s mayor has advised tourists to learn about safety measures before visiting
An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale shook Lisbon and its surrounding areas this Monday February 17, according to Spain’s National Geographic Institute. Although no material damage was reported, the tremor was strong enough to be felt across the Portuguese capital and in parts of Spain, particularly Andalucía.
The quake, which struck at 1.24pm local time (2.24pm in Spain), had its epicentre approximately 14 kilometres southwest of Seixal, near Lisbon, at a depth of one kilometre. The most intense tremors were recorded in Almada and Sesimbra, where the modified Mercalli scale registered an intensity of V/VI.
In Spain, residents in several Andalusian and Extremaduran towns and cities, including Ayamonte, Huelva, Seville and Badajoz, reported feeling the tremor, albeit at a lower intensity of II.
Portugal’s National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority confirmed that there were no reports of injuries or damage. However, Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, urged tourists to familiarise themselves with earthquake safety protocols before visiting the city. While reassuring the public that there was no cause for concern, he acknowledged the possibility of aftershocks, likely at a smaller scale.
This event follows a stronger 5.3-magnitude earthquake recorded off the Portuguese coast near Sines in August last year, which was felt across multiple Spanish regions, including Andalucía, Extremadura, Galicia, Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha.
In addition, there was an earthquake measuring 4.9 magnitude in Morocco just last week which was felt in several Andalusian provinces.
Image: IGN
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