Azores Earthquakes – Nine Islands at a Triple Junction

Largest Quake Detected in the Azores
M4.80 northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge
9 hours ago · Depth 10 km

Recent Azores Earthquakes (Past 24 Hours)

• M4.80
  northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

  Nov 10, 2026 06:43 UTC · Depth 10 km

Source: USGS

Earthquake Activity Around the Azores

This map brings together available USGS earthquake records for the Azores and selected surrounding Atlantic areas. It displays events of magnitude 1.5+ that meet this page’s regional filters. Choose the last hour, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days and click a marker for its location, magnitude, depth and UTC time. Counts and lists update when the page loads or refreshes.

azores earthquakes (map loads with JavaScript)

Island and offshore coverage: This regional view includes the Azores and a broad surrounding Atlantic area. Some earthquakes may be far from the islands, and a catalogue’s nearest-place description does not identify the whole fault rupture. Local time in the Azores changes seasonally; all event times on this page remain in UTC.

Three Plates, More Than One Kind of Earthquake

The Azores are nine volcanic islands near the meeting of the North American, Eurasian and Nubian plates. Nubia is the part of the African plate most often named in research on this region. Their interaction produces a mixture of spreading, sideways fault movement and volcanic activity, with much of the action taking place beneath the Atlantic rather than on land.

The phrase “triple junction” can make this sound like three neat lines meeting at one point. The real setting is less tidy. Deformation is distributed across a complex region that includes the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Terceira Rift and other offshore structures.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge description submitted by Portugal to UNESCO’s Tentative List explains the broad plate setting and the different positions of the islands within it.

Flores and Corvo sit west of the main ridge on the North American plate. The central and eastern islands lie within or near the more complex boundary region to the east. This is why earthquakes around the archipelago cannot all be attributed to one local volcano.

The Azores belong politically to Portugal and remain within this site’s Europe earthquake section, while their geology spans an oceanic plate junction.

Why the Map Often Shows Earthquakes Between Islands

The visible islands are only the parts of a much larger volcanic and tectonic landscape that rise above sea level. Submarine ridges, basins, volcanic centres and faults connect and surround them. A cluster between Faial and São Jorge, or offshore Terceira, can therefore reflect active structures that are not obvious on an ordinary road map.

Research comparing the 1980, 1997 and 1998 Azores earthquakes examines how different earthquake sources fit this regional setting. Sideways faulting and extension both matter. A large offshore earthquake is not necessarily a submarine eruption, and a nearby island’s name in a location label is not evidence that the source was beneath that island.

For perspective, compare the Azores with Iceland’s earthquake regions. Both are linked to the Atlantic plate boundary, but the Azores are not a smaller copy of Iceland. Their three-plate interaction and scattered island geography create a different pattern of sources, felt areas and monitoring challenges.

A Different Seismic Setting for Each Island Group

Faial, Pico and São Jorge

The closely spaced islands of Faial, Pico and São Jorge share a region where earthquakes can be felt across channels and where offshore faults matter alongside volcanic systems. The destructive 1998 earthquake near Faial and the 2022 unrest on São Jorge illustrate two different problems.

One was a damaging earthquake; the other was an extended volcano-tectonic crisis that required assessment of many observations over time.

São Jorge’s long, narrow shape also affects monitoring. Stations positioned mainly along the island cannot constrain every offshore source equally well.

A UK research deployment following the 2022 crisis describes the effort to improve earthquake locations and investigate the relationship between fault slip and magma intrusion. More precise locations can change scientists’ interpretation without the underlying activity suddenly changing.

Terceira, Graciosa and the Central Offshore Region

Terceira and Graciosa lie near an important section of the regional plate-boundary system. Earthquakes offshore can affect more than one island, as the 1980 disaster showed. Terceira also has volcanic systems whose unrest must be interpreted using local monitoring rather than by counting the larger events visible on a global feed.

Angra do Heroísmo gives the earthquake history a particularly visible human dimension. UNESCO’s description of the historic town records the damage caused in 1980 and the importance of conserving its urban and architectural character. Earthquake recovery here involved homes and services as well as churches, streets and other heritage buildings.

São Miguel and Santa Maria

São Miguel combines active volcanic systems, faulting and steep terrain. Earthquake swarms can occur beneath or near volcanic areas, but their origin needs investigation. Research on the February 2018 São Miguel swarm shows the value of analysing waveforms and earthquake sources rather than assigning a cause from a cluster’s appearance alone.

Santa Maria lies farther southeast and has a different geological history from the active volcanic centres on São Miguel. It should not be assumed to share the same immediate volcanic behaviour merely because both islands belong to the eastern group. Likewise, shaking on either island may come from a source offshore rather than from the ground directly below a settlement.

Flores and Corvo

The western islands lie on the North American side of the main Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Their position distinguishes them from islands within the boundary zone farther east, but it does not make them immune to earthquakes, slope failures or other natural hazards. Risk depends on both the source of an event and the vulnerability of the places affected.

Differences in felt reports are part of that picture. An earthquake may be strongly felt in the central group and barely noticed on the western islands. Distance, depth, direction of the rupture and local ground conditions help explain those differences; one archipelago does not mean one uniform shaking experience.

When a Swarm Signals Unrest

An earthquake swarm is a concentration of events in a particular area and period, often without one dominant mainshock. In the Azores, tectonic faulting, magma movement and changes in underground fluids can interact. Scientists therefore compare earthquakes with measurements of deformation, gas and other indicators before interpreting what a sequence might mean.

The 2022 São Jorge crisis began on 19 March and brought intense seismic activity beneath the western part of the island. A joint analysis of seismic recordings and GNSS observations investigates the volcanic and tectonic processes involved. It demonstrates why a crisis can be scientifically and socially important even when the most widely discussed individual earthquakes are modest in magnitude.

The crisis did not become a confirmed eruption. That outcome does not mean the monitoring or preparation was unnecessary. Authorities must act on the evidence available while events are unfolding, when several outcomes may still be possible. For current island assessments, use CIVISA’s official information rather than treating a historical alert level as today’s status.

The Damage Can Come From More Than Shaking

Masonry, Ground Conditions and Essential Services

A shallow earthquake close to an island can produce damaging shaking without reaching the size of the great earthquakes seen at major subduction zones. Older masonry, poorly connected walls and roofs, vulnerable contents and local ground conditions can increase losses. Depth and distance matter, but so does how buildings and infrastructure respond.

An island also has a particular recovery problem. If roads, water supplies or harbour access are disrupted, help and essential supplies may need to move through a small number of routes. Keeping those connections working can be as important as the repair of individual buildings. Our earthquake magnitude guide explains why the source magnitude alone cannot describe all those consequences.

Landslides and the Fajãs

Steep volcanic slopes and cliffs can turn shaking into a second hazard. Loose deposits, weathered rock and saturated ground may fail, while rockfalls can affect roads and footpaths away from the most damaged buildings. The 1522 Vila Franca do Campo disaster on São Miguel is a particularly stark example of the earthquake–landslide connection.

On São Jorge, some coastal fajãs are built from material deposited by slope failures. They are not all formed in the same way, and a flat coastal surface should not be confused with stable cliffs above it. The Azores Geopark description of the northern debris-built fajãs links their development to landslides and notes changes associated with historical earthquakes.

Offshore Earthquakes and Tsunami Warnings

An offshore epicentre does not automatically imply a tsunami. The size and depth of an earthquake, the direction of fault movement and the resulting displacement of water all matter. Submarine landslides and volcanic processes can also generate waves. Local coastal geometry then influences their effects.

IPMA’s account of the 1980 earthquake documents small tsunami signals recorded at Angra do Heroísmo and Horta. This is evidence that local waves are possible, not a reason to expect a damaging tsunami after every felt earthquake. Portugal’s National Maritime Authority explains the role of official tsunami warnings and the need to leave threatened coastal areas.

Did you know?
The 1980 Azores earthquake left a measurable tsunami signal even though its most destructive effects came from shaking. IPMA reports recorded amplitudes of 28 cm at Angra do Heroísmo and 5 cm at Horta. The height at one gauge does not describe the wave everywhere along a coast.
IPMA’s historical summary

Earthquakes Remembered Across the Islands

The following examples were chosen for their lasting consequences or scientific importance. They are not a list of the latest large earthquakes. Historical magnitudes and death tolls can be uncertain, and modern reports may use different magnitude scales. Those distinctions are especially important when comparing accounts of the same event.

• 1522 Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel
  On 22 October, strong shaking triggered a major landslide that buried much of Vila Franca do Campo, then the island’s principal settlement. Research on São Miguel’s landslide history describes the disaster as an event that killed thousands. The exact magnitude and casualty total cannot be established with the precision of a modern instrumental record. Its lasting lesson is the potential for slope failure to magnify earthquake losses.
• 1757 São Jorge earthquake
  A destructive earthquake affected São Jorge, with major slope failures contributing to changes along parts of its coast. The Geopark’s account of the debris-built northern fajãs identifies 1757 among the earthquakes that enlarged these coastal deposits. It is a reminder that some of the archipelago’s scenic landforms also preserve evidence of sudden, dangerous movement.
• 1980 central-group earthquake, M6.9 in IPMA’s summary
  The 1 January earthquake had an offshore epicentre between Terceira and São Jorge and caused severe damage on Terceira, São Jorge and Graciosa. IPMA lists magnitude 6.9 and an estimated depth of 10 km. Other accounts quote different magnitudes. Angra do Heroísmo’s damage and subsequent conservation effort make the earthquake a defining event in the region’s modern history.
• 1998 Faial earthquake, ML5.9 in IPMA’s account
  On 9 July, a shallow offshore earthquake northeast of Horta caused serious damage, particularly on Faial. IPMA’s twentieth-anniversary account gives local magnitude 5.9 and records nine deaths. You may see other magnitudes in research using different scales or source analyses. The event demonstrates why a magnitude-six-class earthquake close to communities can have severe consequences.
• 2022 São Jorge volcano-tectonic crisis
  The swarm beginning on 19 March led to heightened monitoring, public advice and contingency preparations on São Jorge. The Regional Civil Protection information page documents the episode, while later scientific analysis examined earthquakes and ground deformation together. It deserves inclusion as a major unrest episode rather than as one exceptionally large earthquake. Its historical alert levels should not be read as current warnings.

A Sensible Plan for Island Residents and Visitors

Preparedness in the Azores means thinking about your building, the slope above you and the route you would use afterwards. If you are staying in a hotel, guesthouse or holiday rental, ask about its emergency arrangements before anything happens. The Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service’s guidance is the local starting point for protective measures.

During Shaking and Immediately Afterwards

Drop, Cover and Hold On. Indoors, get low, protect your head and neck and shelter under a sturdy table where possible. Stay away from glass, heavy furniture and objects that could fall. Do not rush into the street or use a lift while the ground is shaking. Outdoors, keep away from walls, cliffs, power lines and unstable slopes.

Afterwards, expect aftershocks and avoid damaged buildings. Do not stop beneath a cliff to inspect fallen rocks or attempt a closed coastal path because the ground now seems quiet. If you are near the coast and feel strong or prolonged shaking, move inland or to higher ground once it is safe to move, following local evacuation routes and official instructions.

Useful Preparations Before You Need Them

• Secure tall furniture and keep heavy objects away from beds and seating areas.
• Keep water, food, essential medication, a torch, a first aid kit and a charged power bank accessible.
• Agree on a meeting place and an out-of-area contact, including a plan for interrupted mobile service.
• Learn a safe route away from the coast and identify alternatives if a road is blocked.
• Check local notices before walking below cliffs or visiting areas affected by an active crisis.
• Keep essential travel documents and medication accessible if authorities advise you to relocate.
• Use official information rather than social-media predictions about the next earthquake or eruption.

The PROCIV Azores app provides a local route to protection information. Our Earthquake Safety guide covers actions during shaking, and the Earthquake Preparedness guide helps with household supplies and planning.

Who Watches the Faults and Volcanoes

Local scientists combine seismic observations with measurements of ground deformation, gases and other indicators. That combination helps distinguish regional fault activity from changes within volcanic systems. A denser network and careful review can locate small events more accurately, although offshore monitoring remains more challenging than placing instruments around an onshore source.

• CIVISA The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center monitors regional activity, assesses volcanic systems and issues information to authorities and the public.
• IVAR at the University of the Azores Provides research and scientific expertise in volcanology, seismology and risk assessment, supporting regional monitoring.
• IPMA Portugal’s national meteorological and geophysical institute publishes earthquake information for the Azores, mainland Portugal and other regions.
• Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service Provides public protection information and coordinates regional emergency arrangements.

The CIVISA explanation of monitoring describes why scientists use several kinds of measurement together. This page’s live events come from USGS and do not merge all those local observations into the map. Official volcanic assessments and civil-protection instructions therefore provide information that an earthquake list alone cannot.

🗺️ Other Views of the Atlantic and Europe

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Iceland Earthquakes shows how Atlantic spreading and transform faults behave where the boundary crosses a much larger island.

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