Timeline of natural disasters in the Azores
Encyclopedia
Although this list is not necessarily comprehensive, the following natural disasters have affected the Azores:
1401-1500
- Around 1432: First recorded famine in the AzoresAzoresThe Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
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- 1439-1444 (undocumented): Volcanic eruption on São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
at Sete CidadesSete CidadesSete Cidades is also national park in the state of Piauí, Brazil, see Sete Cidades, PiauíSete Cidades is a civil parish in the center of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, that is likewise located in the center of a massive volcanic crater three miles across, also referred to as Sete Cidades...
; details of the eruption were not recorded, not even the exact date of the event. Father Gaspar FrutuosoGaspar FrutuosoGaspar Frutuoso was a Portuguese priest, historian and humanist from the island of São Miguel, in the Azores...
, who referenced the event in Saudades da Terra, noted that the inhabitants discovered that the topography of the eastern part of the island had changed radically, and that tree trucks and pumice were found floating in the ocean. Colonists from the settlement in what is now Povoação (in the eastern half of the island) heard sounds of explosions and felt many earthquakes leading to this event: "living, these discoverers, in their straw huts, they heard in the space of a year such great grinding, rattling and explosion of the earth with great tremors proceeding the subversion and fire of the peak..."
- 1460?: Another volcanic eruption at Sete Cidades, São Miguel. No specific information was recorded at the time.
1501-1600
- 1522: Innundation of Vila Franca do CampoVila Franca do CampoVila Franca do Campo is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores...
, São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, by mud. On the night of 21 and 22 October 1522, a violent earthquake brought down a great mudslide from the hills around Vila Franca do Campo, causing damage to the majority of the town, the old island capital. Large mudslides also occurred in MaiaMaia (Ribeira Grande)Maia is a civil parish in Ribeira Grande Municipality in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 is 1,901, its density is 86.5/km² and the area is 21.97 km²...
, an area near Ponta GarçaPonta GarçaPonta Garça is a parish in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 was 3577, its density was 129.1/km² and the area was 27.7 km². It is the largest parish in Vila Franca do Campo. It is located on a road linking Lagoa and Ponta Delgada and the...
. The phenomena at Vila Franca inspired many writings, including one that has oral roots, entitled "Novel of Vila Franca" (Romance de Vila Franca), by Teófilo BragaTeófilo BragaJoaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga ]] 24 February 1843 – 28 January 1924) was a Portuguese writer, playwright, politician and the leader of the Republican Provisional Government after the abdication of King Manuel II, as well as the second elected President of the First Portuguese Republic, following...
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- 1523-1530: An epidemic plaguePandemicA pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
ravaged the island of São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, and the island became isolated for a few years. The plague also reached Faial IslandFaial IslandFaial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
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- 1538: A volcanic eruption centered on the cay of FerrariaFerrariaFerraria is a genus of 11 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to tropical and southern Africa. They are herbaceous corm-bearing plants growing to 30–45 cm tall. Some species have an unpleasant scent similar to rotting meat and are pollinated by flies,...
, São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
. In that year, an underwater eruption in the proximity of Ponta da Ferraria lasted for nearly a month. The eruption resulted in the appearance of a small island of "one league in circumference" that shortly disappeared. The eruption caused no damage on land.
- 1547: An earthquake rocked the northeastern part of Terceira IslandTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
. It happened on 17 May and damaged RaminhoRaminhoRaminho is a parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 550, its population density was 49.68/km², and the land area is 11.07 km²....
, (Folhadais), AltaresAltaresAltares is a parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 884, its population density was 33.9/km², and the land area is 26.04 km².-History:...
, and BiscoitosBiscoitosBiscoitos is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the population of Biscoitos was just under 1500 inhabitants, occupying an area of 27.05 km² .The village has a wine museum called the Museu do Vinho dos Biscoitos that...
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- 1562-1564: A volcanic eruption on Prainha do NortePrainha (São Roque do Pico)Prainha is a civil parish in the municipality of São Roque do Pico on the island of Pico, in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 612, its density is 21.9/km² and the area is 27.9 km².-Geography:...
, Pico IslandPico IslandPico Island , is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge...
. On 21 September 1562, tremors that lasted for a "third of an hour" shook the land, and they were followed by a bang. An interesting contemporaneous description of the eruption still exists; people in the town of VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
on São Jorge Island observed it.
- 1563: Volcanic eruption at Lagoa do FogoLagoa do FogoLagoa do Fogo is a crater lake within the Agua de Pau stratovolcano in the center of the island of São Miguel Island in the Azores. The governmental authorities do not allow any modern construction around this lake...
, São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
. The eruption began on 29 June, and five violent earthquakes shook the area. There was enormous destruction on the island. The violent eruption ended on 3 July. The activity was a Plinian eruptionPlinian eruptionPlinian eruptions, also known as 'Vesuvian eruptions', are volcanic eruptions marked by their similarity to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 ....
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- 1563: A volcanic eruption on São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, almost simultaneous with the eruption on Lagoa do Fogo, caused a strombolian eruption in Pico do Sapateiro parish of Ribeira SecaRibeira Seca (Ribeira Grande)Ribeira Seca is a parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 2550, its density is 340.9/km² and the area is 7.48 km². It is located in the southern part of Ribeira Grande.-Geography:...
. The peak was a dome located near the grabenGrabenIn geology, a graben is a depressed block of land bordered by parallel faults. Graben is German for ditch. Graben is used for both the singular and plural....
of Ribeira Grande where a lagoon used to exist. The volcano spewed large amounts of very fluid basaltic lava. An historian wrote in full detail about the eruption; it is included in the account called Fénix Angrense ("The Phoenix of Angra").
- 1564: Another volcanic eruption on Lagoa do FogoLagoa do FogoLagoa do Fogo is a crater lake within the Agua de Pau stratovolcano in the center of the island of São Miguel Island in the Azores. The governmental authorities do not allow any modern construction around this lake...
, São Miguel. The eruption began on 13 February and lasted for a few days, causing no damage.
- 1571: A seismic crisis caused great damage in Angra do HeroísmoAngra do HeroísmoAngra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
during the month of June. The earthquake was centered southeast of Terceira IslandTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
, probably at Banco D. João de Castro. It shook Terceira, and it was felt in São Miguel as well. Someone noted that a ship was sailing in the area at the time of the onset of the earthquakes.
- 1580: An eruption of the volcano of Queimada, São Jorge. On the night of 28 April, the land trembled thirty times and fifty times more the next day. On 1 May, there were tremors and an explosion on the top of the volcano. Another explosion happened in front of the upper part of Ribeira do Nabo, two kilometres east of the volcano. The lava flows began near Ribeira do Almeida. The eruption lasted four months, with large lava flows and volcanic ashes spread as far as TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
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- 1588: Large floods in São BentoSão Bento (Angra do Heroísmo)São Bento is a parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1968; its density was 190.33/km²; and the area is 10.34 km². The parish lies at an elevation of 65 metres above sea level....
and Porto de Pipas, TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
on 26 February. The waters flowed through the valley approaching Porto de Pipas, where they caused destruction to ships and boats.
- 1588: Large floods in VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, São Jorge. On 8 November, the flooding began near Velas with a torrent that "took many people into the sea and flooded many homes". This event was the origin of a popular poem.
- 1591: An earthquake was felt in São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
and on TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
. As a consequence, the earthquake ruined many buildings, especially in Vila Franca do CampoVila Franca do CampoVila Franca do Campo is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores...
and Água de PauÁgua de PauÁgua de Pau is a civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa in the Portuguese Azores. It is the third-largest by population, but largest parish in the municipality of Lagoa; the population in 2001 was 3,122 in an area of 17.43 km² .-History:There are various theories as to the origin of the...
. The population lost their best homes. The king spent 150,000 reals for reconstruction. On Terceira, the land shook four times and seemed to want to "subvert itself"
- 1593: The worst agricultural year in memory caused a famine in the islands of TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
and São Jorge, which was associated with the war of 1580-1593.
- 1599-1600: Bubonic plagueBubonic plaguePlague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
caused seven thousand deaths on Terceira. The year 1599 was known as the "bad year" because of the epidemic crisis. It affected much of the population, and, for two years, it was the worst disaster in Terceira's history. Plague revisited, off and on, for nearly two decades.
1601-1700
- 1606 - Flooding in VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, São Jorge, in February caused much damage to the town of Velas, many roads were "the way that no one could walk a foot". - 1608 — Large flooding in Angra, TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
- On February 11 at about 9 at night, and created a huge intense mudslide in AngraAngra do HeroísmoAngra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
, situated during the area all night. At dawn, the mudslide intensed causing to excave a cave named Santa Luzia. The waters flooded Rua Miragaia as well as Rus do Marquês and Rua do Palácio and also flooded Rua Direita. The flood knocked down walls at its port (the famous "Porta do Mar"), the flood damaged properties and ruined various homes and buildings. - 1613 — Year of the sterility of the grass. It killed two cows. That year was a combination of drought and gale force winds in the winter and spring leaving in one dramatic situation. It killed many animals. It would have been the year of La NiñaLa NiñaLa Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C...
? - 1614 — The first "Caída da Praia" ("Falling of Praia") - earthquakes on April 9 in FontinhasFontinhasFontinhas is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the parish occupied an area of 12.14 km² in the interior of the municipality, with over 1541 inhabitants ....
and May 24 in PraiaPraia da VitóriaPraia da Vitória is a municipality in Portugal's Autonomous Region of the Azores. The second largest administrative division on the island of Terceira, Praia da Vitória occupies the northern coast of the island and extends halfway into the interior having at its frontiers Pico Alto and the shield...
, TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
- On April 9, an earthquake destroyed almost all of the parish of FontinhasFontinhasFontinhas is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the parish occupied an area of 12.14 km² in the interior of the municipality, with over 1541 inhabitants ....
and severely damaged other parishes. On May 24, an earthquake with a huge magnitude ruined almost all of the parishes of AgualvaAgualva (Praia da Vitória)Agualva is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1573, its population density was 40.59/km², and the land area is 38.75 km². The parish lies 186 metres above sea level....
, Vila NovaVila Nova (Praia da Vitória)Vila Nova is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the population was 1729, in an area of about 8.14 km² Vila Nova is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese...
, LajesLajes (Praia da Vitória)Lajes is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the population was 3753, occupying an area of 12.11 km², in the north-eastern coast of the municipality : it is the second largest and the most populous parish in the...
and Santa Cruz de Praia caused injuries. Francisco Ferreira DrummondFrancisco Ferreira DrummondFrancisco Ferreira Drummond was a historian, palaeograph, musician and politician from a locality of Vila de São Sebastião on the island of Terceira, the Portuguese Azores...
described in the Annals of Terceira "Fallen" in the reconstruction with a great detail. - 1630 — A Plinian-type Eruption of FurnasFurnasFurnas is a civil parish in the municipality of Povoação on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1,541, its density is 44.76/km² and the area is 34.43 km². The parish is one of the largest in the island and in the Azores...
, São Miguel and occurred on Septemnber 3. It was known as the "Year of the Ashtray", 191 people were killed in the eruption. The eruption was accompanied with a vulcanic explosions in sea and the sone located near Fogo and around Ribeira QuenteRibeira QuenteRibeira Quente is a civil parish in the municipality of Povoação in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 is 798 in an area of 9.04 km² : the smallest in area, the lowest and the southernmost parish in municipality....
. It also created large mudslides in lants of the south coast of the island of São Miguel. - 1630 — Mudslide in Castelo, São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, in 1630 occurred a gigantic mudslide happened in where today lies the westernmost point of the "cape" located near Ribeira QuenteRibeira QuenteRibeira Quente is a civil parish in the municipality of Povoação in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 is 798 in an area of 9.04 km² : the smallest in area, the lowest and the southernmost parish in municipality....
, São Miguel. The mudslide torn a part of Castelo in the area now known as Ponta da Albufeira. The mudslide was associated with an eruption on FurnasFurnasFurnas is a civil parish in the municipality of Povoação on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1,541, its density is 44.76/km² and the area is 34.43 km². The parish is one of the largest in the island and in the Azores...
in the same year. - 1637 — A hurricane reached TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
- On August 3, a major storm pounded the island and caused much damage - 1638 — underwater eruption near CandeláriaCandelária (Ponta Delgada)Candelária is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel island in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1184, its density approximately 136.41/km² and in an area of about 8.68 km²...
, São Miguel island, the eruption was a Surtseyan, it began on July 3 located about 2 km off the Ponta da Candelária. For 29 days produced a ring-formed island. During the eruption, the sulfur affected about 8 leagues in distance and killed many fishes which created "To load eight vessels to India". - 1641 — A great wave (probably from seaquake) in VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, São Jorge, on December 21, it created a wave near Monte dos Fachos causing great destruction to the town. - 1647 — Seismic crisis in TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
and caused the worst agricultural year in all of the islands. It lasted from the end of December up until the beginning of July causing violent tremors causing panic in Angra. - 1649 — A storm wrecked four boats in AngraAngra do HeroísmoAngra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
, earthquake in TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
, a storm caused strong southeast winds to overturn four boats in Angra. A small earthquake shook Terceira. It was the year that celebrated good wine productions. - 1652 — Eruption on Pico do Fogo, São Miguel, after one week of violent eruption, which caused great phenomena in Lagoa and parts of Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
, On October 19 caused a Strombolian eruption. A basaltic lava destroyed the areas near Calhetas as well as parts of Portões Vermelhos. The eruption lasted for 15 days and caused phenomena. - 1656 — An earthquake rumbled the island of São Miguel on October 18, 1656. The same day at two o'clock caused various aftershocks and on the next day, at seven in the afternoon caused a strong aftershock and damaged houses.
- 1656 — Epidemic of smallpox in TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
- The epidemic affected almost all children under the age of three and reached the population as high as the age of fifteen. - 1668 — A storm reached and devastated Calheta on São Jorge - On November 23, a violent storm caused an "alteration of the sea that flooded the village destroying and knocking down houses", it also obstructed the port.
- 1672 — A volcanic eruption occurred on the night of April 13 in FaialFaial IslandFaial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
which was followed by five seismic waves with caused a seismic crisis in the whole island. Victims of the volcano emigrated to MaranhãoMaranhãoMaranhão is a northeastern state of Brazil. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean. Maranhão is neighbored by the states of Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. The people of Maranhão have a distinctive accent...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. - 1678 — Lack of cereals caused disputes in the municipalities in the islands of São Jorge and PicoPico IslandPico Island , is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge...
. A worst agricultural year which made cereals scarce for the islands of São Jorge and Pico and made the necessity to prohibit cereal exports - 1682 — Underwater eruption occurred in front of Ferraria, São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, the eruption was 4 leagues from Ponta da Ferraria. - 1690 — A huge storm along with an earthquake caused panic on the island of TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
. - 1698 — Seismic crisis in Terceira in October created panic to the population.
1701 - 1800
- 1713 — Floods in the town of VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
on São Jorge. On December 10, the same year, many intense mudslides in the area between UrzelinaUrzelinaUrzelina is a parish in the district of Velas in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 866, its density is 63.4/km² and the area is 13.67 km². It is also known as São Mateus....
and RosaisRosaisRosais is a civil parish in the municipality of Velas in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Although the 2001 statistics have identified approximately 800 residents in the parish, estimates from 2003 show 1123 people living in the parish .-Geography:The parish of Rosais is located on the...
caused large floods destroyed 27 houses in the town of VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
. The Ribeira da Almeida overflowed and by its beach which allowed the passage by foot between the town and Queimage - 1713 — Volcanig eruption and gases at Pico das Camarinhas on São Miguel Island. In various weeks continued and on late-December, created fumes and gases throughout the area. The eruption created volcanic explosions. The seismic crisis destroyed many houses in GinetesGinetesGinetes is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. There were 1267 inhabitants , in an area of 12.07 km² that lies on the eastern flank of the Sete Cidades Massif, south of the parish Mosteiros, and linked via the Estrada Regional roadway to...
, MosteirosMosteiros (Ponta Delgada)Mosteiros is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1196, its density is 130/km² and the area is 9.2 km². It is located in the northwestern part of the island of São Miguel and is connected by roads to Ponta Delgada in the south and...
and CandeláriaCandelária (Ponta Delgada)Candelária is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel island in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1184, its density approximately 136.41/km² and in an area of about 8.68 km²...
. - 1717 - 1718 — Epidemic in Faial which lasted from November 1717 to February 1718 which caused a bubonic plague. On November, the death toll were mainly in CedrosCedros (Horta)Cedros is a civil parish in the northern part of the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Portuguese Azores. The population as of 2001 was approximately 1048, covering an area of 24.53 km²...
, the same in Castelo BrancoCastelo Branco (Horta)Castelo Branco is the southern civil parish on the island Faial, in the Azores; part of the municipality of Horta. This agricultural community is primarily known for the location of the Central Group's first airport, Horta Airport.-History:...
and FlamengosFlamengosFlamengos is a Portuguese civil parish on the island of Faial in the archipelago of the Azores. Its name was derived from the grouping of Flemish settlers who made their homes in this landlocked valley, in the municipality of Horta...
. - 1718 — Eruption in Santa Luzia do Pico which started on February 1 and ended on August 15 and repeated on September, the actitivate ended at the beginning of November. The localization was in the eruptive centre.
- 1720 — Eruption in Soldão, Lajes do Pico on July 10
- 1720 — Eruption in Banco D. João de Castro
- 1730 — Earthquake caused destruction to parish of Luz in Graciosa, on June 13, a violent earthquake destroyed the whole parish of Luz in Graciosa.
- 1744 — A tropical cyclone struck the island of Picl, ruining the parishes of Praina do Galeão, Praia do Norte and São Roque and also in Água de Pau
- 1755 — A tidal wave (tsunami) reached the Azores - "The Tidal Wave of Lisbon" of November 1, 1755 caused a large tidal wave and ruined a large number of buildings in number of parishes. Almost all of its ports in the Azores suffered great destruction and lost many boats. The wave reached about 10 palms (about 150 m) and up to 80 palms (about 120 m)
- 1759-1760 — Earthquake in Faial, which began on December 24, 1759 which was the greatest earthquake on the island, followed with many tremors. Another occurred on January 4.
- 1761 — Eruption on Pico Gordo, Terceira which started on November 1760 and created violent tremors which continued until April 14. Another eruption happened on April 21, the same year.
- 1761 — A tropical hurricane affected the central group of the Azores Islands on September 29
- 1779 — A tropical storm ruined again the central group of the islands on the nights of October 30 and the 31.
- 1779 — Epidemic in Flores
- 1787 - Seismic crisis in GraciosaGraciosaGraciosa Island is referred to as the White Island, the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of 60.65 km², a length of 10 km and a width of 7 km...
, in March, the crisis rumbled the island and caused considerable damage - 1800 — Earthquake in the northeastern portion of Terceira rumbled in the afternoon hours of June 24, the earthquake ruined good parts of the buildings of the parishes or villages of northeastern Terceira.
1801 - 1900
- 1801 - Earthquake in São Sebastião, the sequence of the earthquake in the previous year, new earthquake with larger intensity reached the same parishes. Damage was mainly to São Sebastião, a beach settlement near Cabo da Praia.
- 1808 — Eruption in Urzelina, São Jorge
- 1811 - A volcanic eruption occurred at the shore of Ferraria, São Miguel creating the short-lived Sabrina IslandSabrina Island (Azores)Sabrina Island was an islet formed during the months of June and July 1811 by a submarine volcanic eruption off Ponta da Ferraria, São Miguel Island, Azores, one of many that have been felt in the Sete Cidades Massif over time...
named after the British frigate HMS SabrinaHMS Sabrina (1806)HMS Sabrina was an 18-gun Royal Navy ship-sloop of the Cormorant class, launched in 1806 at Southampton and sold in 1816.-Design:The Cormorant class was designed by Sir William Rule and Sir John Henslow as 16-gun ship-sloops...
. It caused destruction to many homes. The islet disappeared in the following years. - 1817 — Seismic crisis in the island of Graciosa causing much damage to most buildings and properties.
- 1841 — A second "Caída da Praia" ("Falling of Praia") earthquakes on June 15 in Praia da VitóriaPraia da VitóriaPraia da Vitória is a municipality in Portugal's Autonomous Region of the Azores. The second largest administrative division on the island of Terceira, Praia da Vitória occupies the northern coast of the island and extends halfway into the interior having at its frontiers Pico Alto and the shield...
and FontinhasFontinhasFontinhas is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the parish occupied an area of 12.14 km² in the interior of the municipality, with over 1541 inhabitants ....
on TerceiraTerceira IslandReferred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
- Houses were destroyed in the parishes of Santa Cruz da Praia, Fontinhas, Lajes, São Brás, Vila Nova, Agualva, Cabo da PraiaCabo da PraiaCabo da Praia is a civil parish on the east coast of the municipality of Praia da Vitória on the Portuguese island of Terceira in the Azores. In 2001, the population of this parish was 1469 inhabitants in an area of 3.18 km² ....
, Porto MartinsPorto MartinsPorto Martins is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese Azores.- History :Porto Martins was deannexed from the neighbouring parish of Cabo da Praia on 9 May 2001, by force of Regional Decree ....
and São Sebastião - 1848 — An earthquake caused nine deaths in southwestern São Miguel island, the strength caused much damage to Várzea, Feteiras, Candelária and Ginetes
- 1852 — An earthquake rumble the island of São Miguel causing damage to the area.
- 1857 — Hunger reached São Jorge, a tropical cyclone reached the Central Group on August 24, 1857 and caused a destruction of about two thousand farmlands and caused famine. The famine ended after 1859
- 1867 — Underwater eruption in the cay of Serreta, Terceira on the night of June 1 and June 7 after many weeks of intense aftershocks
1901 - 2000
- 1907 — An underwater eruption at the Mónaco Fracture. On the 1st of April founded a small eruption at a radius of 400 m at the depths of Banco Mónaco SSW of S. Miguel. It spewed out ashes from the submerged cape São Miguel - Faial
- 1911 — Underwater eruption in the Mónaco Fracture, in March, it caused a minor eruption located about 200 to 300 m in depth SSW in 1907, the eruption lasted several hours.
- 1926 — A major earthquake rumbled the city of Horta, in early-April, the island saw series of intensive earthquakes. On April 5 damage was reported in Flamengos, Ribeirinha and Conceição. On August 31 at 8:42 (Oscar Time) causing 8 deaths ruining the cities of Horta again and parishes of Conceição, Praia do Almoxarife (ruining 220 homes), Flamengos, Feteira and Castelo Branco and most of Lomba do Pilar e o Salão. 4,138 homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed
- 1957 - 1958 — Eruption at CapelinhosCapelinhosThe Capelinhos is a monogenetic volcano located on the western coast of the island of Faial in the Azores. It is part of the larger Volcanic Complex of Capelo, that includes 20 escoria cones and lava fields that are aligned west-northwest to east-southeast from the Cabeço Gordo caldera...
, Faial between September 16 and 27, 1957 and ending October 25, 1958, ruined buildings and extended the land by an underwater eruption 1 km from Ponta dos Capelinhos. Many people emigrated to North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. - 1963 — An earthquake and an underwater eruption affected Santa Luzia in Pico from December 12 to 15. It made seismographs from Faial registered a volcanic tremor at Cachorro, Santa Luzia on the north coast of the island of Pico. The tremor lasted from December 13 to 14. On December 15, with great weather and a good visibility, residents of Faial and Pico saw "balls of clouds of vapor" leaving from the front of Cachorro. None of these materials were collected and the phenomenon was not did not shook heavily and did not caused any damage.
- 1964 — An earthquake shook the island of São Jorge in the area of RosaisRosaisRosais is a civil parish in the municipality of Velas in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Although the 2001 statistics have identified approximately 800 residents in the parish, estimates from 2003 show 1123 people living in the parish .-Geography:The parish of Rosais is located on the...
and VelasVelasVelas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, damaging 900 homes and 400 buildings, as well as causing panic on the island, leading to the evacuation of large numbers of Jorgenses to the island of Terceira and other islands. The crisis was caused by an underwater deep eruption off the coast of Rosais. - 1973 — Earthquake shook the islands of Pico and Faial, in the portion of October 11, residents felt numerous aftershocks on Pico, Faial and São Jorge with particular prominence over the parish of São Mateus and the locality of Terra do Pão, and Pico island. On November 23 at 12:36 p.m. OST (2:36 p.m. GMT), measured a violent earthquake (at 7/8 on the Wood-Neumann scale) with the epicenter near Santo Antonio on Pico. The earthquake caused major damage, with many houses partially damaged, fallen walls and displaced streets and roads, the parishes of Bandeiras Santa Luzia, Santo Antóónio and São Roque in the north coast of Pico and São Mateus in the south coast and damaged the parishes of ConceiçãoConceição (Horta)Conceição is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001 it counted a population of 1157 inhabitants with territorial limits of 2.74 km² between Espalamaca and the parish of Matriz in Horta, although it is the second smallest parish within the administration...
, MatrizMatriz (Horta)Matriz is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta, in the Portuguese Azores, which is part of the urbanized core of the city of Horta. In 2001, its population was 2523, in an area approximately 1.62 km² ; it is the smallest parish, densest and second-most populous parish on the...
and Flamengos in the island of Faial - 1980 - The 1980 Azores Islands earthquake1980 Azores Islands earthquakeStriking the Autonomous Region of Azores on January 1, the 1980 Azores Island earthquake killed 61 people and injured over 400, causing severe damage on the islands of Terceira and São Jorge. Measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, it also shook the islands of Pico and Faial. The earthquake was found...
on January 1 devastated Terceira São Jorge and Graciosa islands happened at 4:42 p.m. OST (6:42 p.m. GMT) measuring 7 on the Richter Scale. The epicenter was located nearly 35 km SSW of Angra do Heroísmo. It caused damage to buildings in the city of Angra do Heroísmo. town of São Sebastião and the parishes of W and NW Terceira and including TopoTopo (Azores)Topo, also known as Nossa Senhora do Rosário , is a civil parish on the northeastern corner of the municipality Calheta on the island of São Jorge...
and Santo Antão, in São Jorge devastated Carapacho and Luz in Graciosa. The earthquake was one of the greatest recorded earthquakes in the Azores Islands. 71 people lost their lives, 400 were injured, nearly 15,500 homes were destroyed and 15,000 (about 5% of the Azorians) were homeless. - 1981 — An underwater eruption in Fractura Mónaco, in the beginning of July, a small underwater eruption about 300 m in depth was located in Banco Mónaco (SSW of São Miguel), it spewed gases and basaltic materials.
- 1997 — An underwater eruption near Banco D. João de Castro -In the spring of 1997, the intense microseismic activity rumbled throughout that area and caused numerous earthquakes and aftershocks (I to III on the Mercali scale felt in Terceira and São Miguel islands lifted and created an underwater eruption.
- 1997 — Mudslide in Ribeira QuenteRibeira QuenteRibeira Quente is a civil parish in the municipality of Povoação in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 is 798 in an area of 9.04 km² : the smallest in area, the lowest and the southernmost parish in municipality....
, São Miguel, on October 31, 1997 after one week of intense slides, it created for early two hours of heavy precipitation on October 31 and created a mudslide over the hillsides of Outeiro das Freiras and left 36 families totaling 114 persons homeless. - 1998 — The 1998 Azores earthquake on July 9 shook Faial, Pico and São Jorge at 5:19 a.m. ODT (6:19 a.m. GMT) measured 5.6 on the Richter scale with and epicenter NNE of the island of Faial caused damage to the parishes of RiberinhaRibeirinha (Horta)Ribeirinha is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. In 2001 the population was approximately 439, in an area of 11.27 km² . It is one of the northern parishes along Regional Road E.R. 1-1ª, linking the city of Horta to the rest of the island...
, Pedro MiguelPedro MiguelPedro Miguel is a parish in the northeastern part of the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Azores. Pedro Miguel is located 6 km north of the city of Horta on the main regional road that encircles the island...
, SalãoSalãoSalão is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial, the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 was 436 inhabitants, covering an area of 11.8 km2; the parish is the least populated on the island.-History:...
and CedrosCedros (Horta)Cedros is a civil parish in the northern part of the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Portuguese Azores. The population as of 2001 was approximately 1048, covering an area of 24.53 km²...
and more damage in Castelo Branco (mainly Lombega), FlamengosFlamengosFlamengos is a Portuguese civil parish on the island of Faial in the archipelago of the Azores. Its name was derived from the grouping of Flemish settlers who made their homes in this landlocked valley, in the municipality of Horta...
and Praia do AlmoxarifePraia do AlmoxarifeLocated in the municipality of Horta, Praia do Almoxarife is a civil parish of the archipelago of the Portuguese Azores. Ironically, for its history , its population has not grown significantly since it was settled...
on Faial, it also caused damage in parts of Pico Island and the far western part of the São Jorge Island. 8 persons lost their lives in the earthquake, 1,700 persons were homelesses. - 1999 — 2000 - An underwater eruption shook Serreta on Terceira registering aftershocks in the area on November 25, 1998. Fishermen founded another eruption at the end of December.
2002 - Present
- Spring 2005 - Heavy rainfall deluged the Azores causing mudslides and flooding throughout the islands. People were stranded in their houses and roads were closed; buildings, property, and some roads were damaged.
- Fall 2009 - Heavy rainfall deludged the Azores causing flooding throughout the islands. Many people's homes were damaged, some even lost.