Approximately 100 slight earthquakes, mostly unnoticed, were registered Friday morning in northeastern Brazil, local press reported.
The phenomena started at 2:00 a.m. local time in the north of Ceara state with the epicenter identified at somewhere between thetwo cities of Sobral and Alcantara.
Some of the earthquakes could be felt in the neighboring state of Piaui, some 200 kilometers away from the epicenter. The biggest quake was measured 4.0 on the Richter scale, reports said.
The earthquakes caused loud noises and cracks on walls of houses, provoking panic in the region.
Francisco Brandao, head of the seismology laboratory of Ceara'scivil defense department, said some people were scared and refused to go back home.
It is the second time over the past two weeks that local people in the region have felt earthquakes, which have been taking place almost every day in the region since Jan. 28, but not always in a noticeable way, Brandao said.
Several teams of the local civil defense department have been sent out to instruct people in Sobral on how to behave when an earthquake occurs. They also advise the residents to build shelters with canvas outside their brick-made homes.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article