Memorial to the Earthquake of July 9, 1998

Category: Nature > Park

District: Açores > Horta > Flamengos

Location

The July 9, 1998 Earthquake Memorial is located in the parish of Flamengos, in the municipality of Horta, on Faial Island. This locality, despite not being the epicenter of the greatest devastation, deeply felt the effects of the seismic tremor. Its location offers a space for reflection on recent history and the remarkable recovery capacity of the Faialense community.

An Unforgettable Event

This memorial recalls the significant earthquake that struck Faial Island in the early hours of July 9, 1998, at 05:19 AM (universal time). With a magnitude of M=6.1, this tremor was preceded by a milder shock fifteen minutes before the main event, which caused widespread destruction. Although the northeastern areas of the island, such as Espalhafatos and Ribeirinha, were the most severely hit, becoming almost completely devastated, the parish of Flamengos and other localities also suffered significant damage, evidencing the extent of the impact.

The Legacy and Resilience

The 1998 earthquake had a profound impact, resulting in the loss of nine lives and leaving about a hundred injured. One thousand five hundred homes sustained extensive damage, with half of them becoming irreparable. Interestingly, the traditional construction of the houses, many with stone walls and internal wooden partitions, contributed to the death toll not being even higher, as the flexibility of the wood and the presence of tall furniture created shelter spaces that protected the inhabitants. Historical buildings, such as 19th-century churches and bridges, were also severely damaged. The island's terrain itself witnessed notable changes, including the appearance of fissures and various landslides. The memorial in Flamengos thus serves as a solemn reminder of the force of nature and, simultaneously, as a tribute to the resilience and spirit of reconstruction that characterize the people of Faial.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt