In a statement, IPMA said that the earthquake occurred at 11:21 pm on Wednesday and that the epicenter was located approximately six kilometers west of Paços de Ferreira.
“This earthquake, according to the information available to date, did not cause any personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity III (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipalities of Vila Nova de Famalicão (Braga), Gondomar, Maia, Paredes, Santo Tirso, Valongo and Trofa (Porto)”, it can be read.
According to the Richter scale, earthquakes are classified according to their magnitude as micro (less than 2.0), very small (2.0-2.9), small (3.0-3.9), slight (4.0-4.9), moderate (5.0-5.9), strong (6.0-6.9), large (7.0-7.9), important (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9.0-9.9) and extreme. (when greater than 10).
The Modified Mercalli scale measures “degrees of intensity and respective description”.
With intensity III, the shock is considered weak, it is felt inside the house and hanging objects swing, feeling a “vibration similar to that caused by the passage of heavy vehicles”, according to IPMA.
