An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 struck the Portuguese coast early Monday morning, according to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The quake occurred 7.7 km southeast of Lisbon and 74 km southwest of Setúbal, with the epicenter located in the sea.
The tremors were felt in several areas, including Sines, Lisbon, and Setúbal. Reports on social media indicated that the quake was also felt as far away as Porto, and in parts of Spain and Morocco.
Initially, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center estimated the quake's magnitude at 5.4. However, IPMA later revised it to 5.3 on the Richter scale.
The earthquake was recorded at 5:11 a.m. local time (6:11 a.m. CET) with an epicenter 58 kilometers west of Sines, at a depth of 21 kilometers.
José Miranda, commander of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), reported, "We received numerous calls, mainly from people wanting to know what was happening and how they should respond. As of 6:00 a.m., we have not been able to determine the exact number of calls received."
Miranda emphasized that there have been no reports of injuries or significant damage so far. "At the moment, we only have information about a situation in Sesimbra where possible cracks in buildings are being investigated," he added.
In a statement released Monday morning, the Portuguese government assured the public that it was "in close coordination with all relevant services." The government confirmed that there were no injuries or damage to property and urged the population to remain calm. It also recommended that people follow the instructions of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection.
