With tears and uncertainty, locals leave earthquake-hit Azores island

reuers ^ | March 26, 2022 | By Catarina Demony and Pedro Nunes

[BenLurkin]

Fatima and Antonio Soares, who are in their 70s, decided to leave their home along with dozens of other residents on Saturday, a week since thousands of tremors started to rattle the volcanic, mid-Atlantic island.

Seismologists fear the more than 12,700 tremors, which have had a magnitude of up to 3.3, could trigger a volcanic eruption or a powerful quake.

Dozens of other Sao Jorge residents also left early on Saturday, with the latest government figures showing about 1,250 people left the island on March 23 and March 24 alone.

The region's CIVISA seismo-volcanic surveillance centre raised the volcanic alert to Level 4 on Wednesday, meaning there is a "real possibility" the volcano could erupt for the first time since 1808.

[ClearCase_guy]

CIVISA said there was "no evidence that a volcanic eruption was imminent" but said such a scenario could not be discounted.

People make their own choices, and sometimes it's smart to be cautious.

But I feel like the world lives in fear, with death constantly around the corner. I don't get it.

[GingisK]

The Azores seem kind of cool to me. I hope these shakes recede.

I was there in 1957, when I was only seven years old. It gave me a nice feeling.

[blam]

From The Guardian:

Satellite map showing seismic activity at São Jorge island. Photograph: Civisa/Reuters

More Than 1,100 Earthquakes Shake Portugal’s Azores Islands

[blam]

"I was there in 1957, when I was only seven years old. It gave me a nice feeling. "

I don't remember what year I went by there but I do remember at the time that someone was explaining to me who the Beatles were.

[aquila48]

Bookmark

[gundog]

I’d like to hear Hank Johnson explain these island eruptions.

[GingisK]

The Beatles formed in 1960, so you were there in roughly the same time frame. Can we really be that old?

[1FreeAmerican]

“Seismologists fear the more than 12,700 tremors, which have had a magnitude of up to 3.3, could trigger a volcanic eruption or a powerful quake.”

Ignorant reporting here (am I surprised?)

The volcano is causing the earthquakes - not the other way around.

[Theophilous Meatyard III]

I was there from 1964 to 1967. Parents lived on Sao Miguel (the largest island and regional capital), where all of the consulates were located. Flew in the old USAF “gooney bird” (C-47) from there to Tercierra island, where mostly USAF personnel were stationed at Lajes Field. Attended an American-run high school there, from freshman to junior years. Cobblestone roads throughout the islands, at least then.

[Theophilous Meatyard III]

Oh, and it wasn’t unusual to feel the floor a rublin’ underneath you