Exactly 100 years ago, the island of Faial was hit by one of the most destructive earthquakes in its history. The August 31, 1926 shock occurred at 8:42 AM, with its epicenter in the channel between Faial and Pico, magnitude estimated between 5.3 and 5.9 on the Richter scale and maximum intensity of degree X on the Mercalli scale. The earthquake caused nine dead, more than 200 injured and damage to 4,138 homes. The destruction mainly affected the parishes of Conceição, Flamengos, Ribeirinha and Praia do Almoxarife, as well as religious heritage such as the Convent and Church of Carmo, the Convent of Santo António and the Church of Conceição.
The seismic crisis that led to the major earthquake had begun in April 1926, with a first seismic event that had already caused significant damage. The affected population was approximately 20,000 people. The Government took on part of the response with financial support to victims, with the amount needed for reconstruction estimated at approximately 91 thousand contos.
The seismic history of Faial did not end in 1926. The island suffered earthquakes with relevant consequences again in 1973 and 1998, with some areas, such as the Flamengos bridge area, recording repeated damage. In July of this year, two low-magnitude earthquakes (2.8 and 2.7) were felt on the island within less than half an hour, classified as weak intensity.
The centenary of the earthquake is being commemorated by the Museu da Horta with an awareness action and a drill, in collaboration with the Voluntary Firefighters of Faial, aimed at approximately a hundred children. In May, the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center raised the volcanic alert level from V0 to V1 in the Faial-Pico channel due to increased low-magnitude seismic activity in that geological structure.
