The Centre Seismologique Euro-Méditeranéen recorded a Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake at a depth of 16 km off the west coast of Portugal, about 68 km to the west of the town of Sines, slightly after 5.10 am local time (slightly after 4.10 am GMT) on Monday 26 August 2024. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, though it was felt across the Madeira Islands group, as well as in parts of the Canary Islands.
The Earthquake occurred close to the Cape St. Vincent Ridge, which runs along the boundary between the African and European plates to the east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is currently an area of expansion, with the two plates moving apart along this part of the boundary and new seafloor being created by the upwelling of magma from the mantle and its extrusion as a new area of crustal material, the Azores Microplate. This is not a smooth process, and can lead to occasional Earthquakes.
Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. If you felt this event you can report it to the Centre Seismologique Euro-Méditeranéen here.
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