Portugal experienced a magnitude 5.3 earthquake at 5:11 AM on August 26, 2024, with its epicenter located 60 kilometers west of Sines.

The earthquake was felt across the country, particularly in the metropolitan area of Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula, but fortunately resulted in no casualties or significant material damage.

Emergency services confirmed that there were no reports of personal injuries or material damage following the quake.

Some residents described the experience as frightening, with buildings shaking, but overall, the situation remained calm.

The Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) reported that their website experienced outages due to high traffic from users seeking information after the earthquake.

In response to the earthquake, the government is coordinating closely with relevant services to manage the situation effectively.

Acting Prime Minister Paulo Rangel referred to the earthquake as a 'real test' for the country's emergency response capabilities.

André Fernandes, the national commander of Civil Protection, explained that the earthquake's magnitude did not meet the threshold of 6.1 required to activate special emergency plans.

Citizens were promptly informed about the earthquake through Google alerts and smartphone notifications, which facilitated the sharing of information.

The intensity of the tremor was classified as II to III, indicating that it was felt occasionally by sensitive individuals and caused noticeable movement within buildings.

Seismic risk researcher Mónica Amaral Ferreira emphasized that this earthquake serves as a wake-up call for increased awareness regarding seismic risks in Portugal.

In Andalusia, the Emergency Coordination Center received over 15 calls about the tremor, primarily from Huelva, but also reported no injuries or damages.