Portugal's mid-Atlantic Azores islands jolted by wave of small quakes

LISBON (AFP) Jan 22, 2004
The main island of Portugal's mid-Atlantic Azores archipelago was jolted overnight by eight small earthquakes and some 300 aftershocks, officials said Thursday.

The strongest quake to strike Sao Miguel, the largest and most populated island in the nine-island archipelago, measured 3.4 on the 12-point Mercalli scale of intensity, the islands' SIVISA seismic watch center reported.

No material damage or injuries were reported.

A tremor of this strength can cause hanging objects to swing back and forth but people outdoors might not realize that an earthquake is occurring.

The verdant nine-island Azores archipelago is full of extinct volcanos and earth tremors are a frequent occurrence.

TERRA.WIRE