A magnitude 5.4 earthquake shook Portugal in the early hours of this Monday (26/8), causing panic and concern in several regions of the country. The tremor, which had its epicenter in the sea, near the coast of Setúbal, at a depth of only ten kilometers, hit several parts of Portugal, including the large cities of Lisbon and Porto. The intensity of the tremor was enough to appear live during a broadcast from CNN Portugalwhere the presenters were clearly uncomfortable while relaying information about the attacks on Israel. Watch the video of the moment of the tremor:
5.3 earthquake in Portugal!
The biggest earthquake since 1969.
CNN journalists felt the earthquake live 👇🏿
In principle there is no material damage or injuries. pic.twitter.com/3aax1pxHKO
— Carlos Schwab Hortmann 🇵🇸🇧🇷🇩🇪🇵🇹 (@CarlosHortmann) August 26, 2024
Victims
Although there have been no reports of casualties or serious damage, the early hours of the morning were filled with a flood of calls to the Civil Protection. From north to south of the country, residents of regions such as Alentejo and Coimbra contacted the authorities, frightened and unsure of what to do in the face of the unexpected earthquake. Most of the calls were from people seeking information about what was happening and guidance on how to proceed in similar situations.
The Portuguese government, through the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, issued a statement asking the population to remain calm. In addition, it reinforced the importance of following official recommendations in cases of new tremors.We urge the population to remain calm and follow the recommendations of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.“, said the government, trying to reassure the population.
Celebrities felt the earthquake
On social media, the scare was also shared by several celebrities who live in or are passing through Portugal. The actress Luana Piovaniwho lives in the country, reported the alarming experience of waking up to the tremor. “Today the earth shook here in Portugal. I woke up in the early hours of the morning and thought about it, but then went back to sleep. Now this morning, all anyone is talking about is it, and it seems like it was a very strong earthquake.“, she said, recalling that she had already gone through something similar during the time she lived in Japan.
Other public figures, such as the actress Leticia Spiller and Susana Wernerwife of the former goalkeeper Julius Caesar, also commented on the earthquake. Werner, despite not having felt the tremor, mentioned on his social networks the severity of the event: “Earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale hits Portugal. It is the largest earthquake since 1969. Thank God we didn’t feel it here at home“.
The renowned soap opera author, Aguinaldo Silvawas also surprised by the tremor, which made him jump out of bed at 5:30 in the morning. On his social networks, he reported the frightening scene that followed the tremor: “5:30 in the morning, 20 minutes after the earthquake here in Portugal that woke me up and made me jump out of bed. Everything was calm, no one on the street.”
Earthquake history
Although no major damage was caused, the earthquake highlighted the constant risk of earthquakes in Portugal. This is because it is a region that, although not frequently affected, is within an area of seismic risk. The memory of past earthquakes, such as the one in 1969, was revived. As a result, the population was on alert and highlighted the need to prepare for possible future earthquakes.
Summary for those in a hurry:
- A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Portugal in the early hours of 26/8, with its epicenter close to the coast of Setúbal.
- The tremor was felt in several parts of the country, including Lisbon and Porto.
- Civil Protection received numerous calls from concerned residents seeking information.
- The government asked the population to remain calm and reinforced the importance of following official recommendations.
- Celebrities such as Luana Piovani and Aguinaldo Silva reported their experience of the tremor on social media.
- Despite the scare, there were no reports of victims or serious damage, but the event was a reminder of the seismic risk in Portugal.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
