Find out how to protect yourself during earthquakes in Portugal
We woke up earlier than usual today, and it wasn’t for a pleasant reason. We received a strange alert on our phones warning of an earthquake in Portugal.
It was 5:11 AM, and my husband and I were awakened by the sound of a notification. We knew right away it wasn’t a WhatsApp message because the sound was different. I immediately had a feeling that something wasn’t right. It turned out to be an earthquake warning issued by the Android earthquake alert system.
We were worried, as we had never experienced an earthquake. I immediately turned on the TV to a station here in Portugal to find out what was actually happening. The footage showed security cameras in the rooms of the houses with a few seconds of shaking. I opened social media and checked the same.
We live in the mountains in a city called Loures, where the maximum altitude reaches 400 meters, and we didn’t feel any shock. We checked the internal and external security cameras and nothing, no earthquakes up here. However, as soon as I posted the notice on my personal Facebook profile and also shared it on Vamu Ver! friends and residents of Lisbon and neighboring cities began to report what they felt.
Some say they woke up to the bed shaking, others to the sound of objects falling to the floor and that there were seconds of panic, as they didn’t know what it was.
The estimate was for an earthquake that would reach a magnitude of 5.9, but IPMA – Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera confirmed that the tremor was 5.3 on the Richter scale and after updates throughout the day, there were six aftershocks, which fortunately did not were felt.
I talked to a friend who lives on Madeira Island, and there, according to her, nothing was felt. This is because the epicenter of the earthquake was 60 km from Sines, there in the Atlantic Ocean. On the south bank, in cities like Seixal and Barreiro, there were more reports of the tremors. Despite the scare, no cases of material loss or loss of life were reported.
To the surprise of many, earthquakes are frequent here in Portugal, but we don’t feel them due to the depth at which they occur. There was no risk of a tsunami, as it would only occur, according to authorities, if the earthquake reached or exceeded 6.0 on the Richter scale, which goes up to 9.0. There are explanations on the IPMA website.
What to do in case of an earthquake?
In 1755, there was a devastating earthquake here in Portugal, followed by fires and a tsunami. Lisbon and other neighboring cities were the most affected.
During an earthquake or earthquake the first action is to crouch down. Go to a room where there is no furniture or paintings, the hallway could be a good option. Protect your head and seek shelter under a sturdy table. Stay away from windows. Avoid using elevators and do not light matches or lighters. If you are on the street, avoid taking shelter under trees, poles or buildings that could collapse.
I have already experienced the passage of a hurricane when I lived in Miami and also some chaotic situations of landslides due to rain in Niterói and Angra dos Reis, and a fire started in the kitchen in the middle of Christmas. I survived! I say that, no matter how difficult it is, the important thing is to stay calm and always have your ‘protection kit'” and the “escape kit” nearby.
Having a stock or a considerable number of some items is essential in these cases. For example: drinking water in plastic bottles, batteries, flashlights, candles, lighters, matches, canned food, pain medication, first aid kit, portable external batteries for cell phones and, if applicable, an extra high-power battery for those who need to use specific health devices. It’s not alarmism! It’s precaution! As the saying goes -better safe than sorry.
As for the ‘escape kit’, I even talked about this with a friend last year, when in the summer season, here in Portugal and in some cities in Europe, there are frequent bushfires and fires. As we live in an area with a lot of forest, well wooded, and sometimes with dry grass, the combination of some factors can quickly start a fire. Having the documents for humans and, if applicable, for pets (if you have one), an animal transport box, as well as a cell phone charger, a basic coat and car keys on hand, is already quite an advance. Because at the time, there is a lot of information and decision-making has to be accurate!
Where to call?
To protect yourself and be notified before an earthquake or earthquake, always update your cell phone system, whether Android or IOS. We have the Google cell phone, the Pixel, which in addition to the Android system has the device itself. If you are not sure whether you have an active earthquake alert, download an available app compatible with your smartphone. IPMA provides a MOBILE APP – seismic. There are also other apps, such as My Earthquake Alerts and Earthquake.
Keep this number 112 in mind, it is the emergency telephone number used here in Europe. If you are in Portugal, Germany, Spain or another country here, it will work. We’ve already done an article about important telephone numbers that you should have printed out on a page and pinned to the refrigerator or kept in your office or on your bedside table. The important thing is that it is in a place that is easily accessible to everyone at home.
Avoid calling local entities, such as Civil Protection and others. CALL ONLY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, in case of risk to life, accidents, landslides, as the telephone lines are congested, sometimes we can clarify some doubts by accessing websites and/or applications.
And finally, see the recommendations made by ANEPC – Portugal’s National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority in cases of earthquakes or earthquakes. Stay safe.
