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The Azores sit on the triple junction of the North American, Eurasian and African plates, with volcanic and earthquake swarms across the islands. This page pulls real records for Azores: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Azores.
Earthquake risk in Azores - FAQ
Is Azores at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 11 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.7 in 1980.
What was the biggest earthquake in Azores?
The strongest earthquake on record near Azores is M6.7, in 1980 (29 km NE of Ribeira Seca, Portugal), from USGS.
Does Azores get tsunamis?
Yes - 14 tsunamis since 1522 (most recently 1980) within 333 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 5,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Azores?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.