Magnitude 5.1 earthquake felt across three Azores islands
Azores GuideCIVISA said the strongest reported shaking reached V/VI in Ponta Delgada. Two further earthquakes were recorded in the same area later that evening.
An earthquake was felt in the Azores at 18:07 local time on 20 October 2026. CIVISA put its magnitude at 5.1 and located its epicentre about 39 kilometres west of Ginetes, on São Miguel. The agency said it was felt on São Miguel, Terceira and Santa Maria.
According to CIVISA, the maximum intensity was V/VI on the Modified Mercalli Scale in the municipality of Ponta Delgada. It reported intensity V in Ribeira Grande, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo and Povoação; IV/V in Nordeste; IV in Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória on Terceira; and III in Vila do Porto on Santa Maria.
IPMA gave the earthquake a magnitude of 5.2 and placed its epicentre about 40 kilometres west of Ginetes, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada. It reported a maximum intensity of IV/V in the parishes of São Sebastião in Ponta Delgada and Relva. Radio Atlântida reported that, according to IPMA information available at the time, there was no record of personal injury or material damage.
Two further earthquakes were recorded in the same area at 18:22 and 18:30, with magnitudes of 2.6 and 3.4 respectively. CIVISA said the 18:30 earthquake was felt with a maximum intensity of IV in the municipality of Ponta Delgada and that it continued to monitor the situation.
Update — 2026-10-21
At 00:12 local time on 21 October, CIVISA recorded another earthquake in the same area, with magnitude 3.2 and an epicentre about 41 kilometres west of Ginetes. It was felt with a maximum intensity of III/IV in Santo António, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.
The Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) said in a statement issued at 19:37 on 20 October that there had been no recorded injuries or material damage linked to the stronger earthquake and appealed for calm.
Update — 2026-10-21
CIVISA said that by about 10:00 local time on 21 October, it had recorded nearly 100 aftershocks since the main earthquake. All were of lower magnitude, and some above magnitude 3 were felt by the population.
CIVISA researcher Rita Carmo said the situation was tending to stabilise and that seismic activity decreased overnight.
Update — 2026-10-22
At 16:14 on 22 October 2026, CIVISA recorded another earthquake in the same area, with magnitude 4.3 and an epicentre about 39 kilometres west of Ginetes. IPMA put its magnitude at 4.4. CIVISA said it was felt with a maximum intensity of IV in the municipality of Ponta Delgada and with intensity III in Ribeira Grande and Vila Franca do Campo on São Miguel and in Praia da Vitória on Terceira.
Update — 2026-10-23
According to Rádio Atlântida, citing CIVISA researcher Rita Carmo, the earthquakes are in the Hirondelle Basin (Fossa Hirondelle), an undersea depression between São Miguel and Terceira bounded by tectonic faults. The epicentres lie on one of those faults.
Update — 2026-10-27
At 19:28 local time on Monday, CIVISA recorded an earthquake of magnitude 3.6 with its epicentre about 38 kilometres west of Ginetes, in the same area as the 20 October earthquake. It was felt with a maximum intensity of III/IV in Candelária, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.
Update — 2026-10-28
At 14:18 local time on 28 October, CIVISA recorded an earthquake of magnitude 4.0 with its epicentre about 40 kilometres west of Ginetes, in the same area as the 20 October earthquake. It was felt with a maximum intensity of III/IV in the municipality of Ponta Delgada and with intensity III in Ribeira Grande.
Sources
Azores Guide
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