Friday, December 17, 2004
Algarve Earthquake!
It's true, apparently. On Monday 13 December 2004 an earthquake affected Algarve and most of Portugal.
Fortunately, the centre of the 'quake was some 100 miles out to sea, south west of Cabo de Sao Vicente. Even so, the tremors in Faro measured 5 on the Richter scale. That's enough to make inanimate objects move! (So it might even have got husband Nev out of his armchair).
Suitably reassuring 'official' noises have been made, with a statement from Coimbra University to the effect that Portugal's regulations regarding earthquakes are world-class. That would, of course, apply only to new buildings.
So, am I put off? Well, no... These things happen, and it's not like living on the San Andreas fault, as do many Californians. The last major earthquake in Portugal was 1755, so if another was due, that was probably it on Monday.
I'm still planning to get my little white legs back in Algarve as soon as I can.
Fortunately, the centre of the 'quake was some 100 miles out to sea, south west of Cabo de Sao Vicente. Even so, the tremors in Faro measured 5 on the Richter scale. That's enough to make inanimate objects move! (So it might even have got husband Nev out of his armchair).
Suitably reassuring 'official' noises have been made, with a statement from Coimbra University to the effect that Portugal's regulations regarding earthquakes are world-class. That would, of course, apply only to new buildings.
So, am I put off? Well, no... These things happen, and it's not like living on the San Andreas fault, as do many Californians. The last major earthquake in Portugal was 1755, so if another was due, that was probably it on Monday.
I'm still planning to get my little white legs back in Algarve as soon as I can.
