Spain and Portugal face a high risk to experience a earthquake similar to what happened in 1755. Faced with this threat, the Portuguese government issued an alert and requested the implementation of an emergency plan to protect the population and infrastructure. Mário Lopes, professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico and expert in earthquake engineering, together with specialists in geology and engineering, urged authorities to urgently strengthen buildings that house children and babies, especially those that are elderly and vulnerable to a large earthquake. magnitude.
In addition, many schools are particularly vulnerable and several are located in areas that could be hit by a tsunami following a major earthquake at sea. The situation is also worrying for hospitalsbecause many of them, including the main ones in Lisbon, are not prepared. Experts warn that if an earthquake with a magnitude of 1755 were to occur today, the damage could be equivalent to one year of the country’s GDP. Likewise, they criticize the decision of Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) to allocate 700 million euros for the energy improvement of buildings, without allocating resources to strengthen seismic resistance, which could lead to devastating losses in the event of a disaster earthquake.
The earthquake that threatens Spain
Portugal has issued a serious warning about the possibility of another earthquake similar to the devastating earthquake of 1755, one of the most tragic episodes in the country’s history and one of the worst. natural disasters in Europe. Experts have urged monitoring the safety of educational facilities, such as daycares and preschools, in the face of a potential significant earthquake.
Mário Lopes, professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) and specialist in earthquake engineering, highlighted the urgency of a national plan to strengthen the infrastructure of these centers, supported by studies that show the vulnerability of many schools , particularly those located in areas likely to be affected by tsunamis.
In collaboration with the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC)an analysis of 28 schools was carried out at the request of the municipality, which concluded that 18 of them require seismic reinforcement measures. Concern also extends to hospitals in Lisbon, notably those of Santa María and São José, which are not prepared for a strong earthquake.
On August 25, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere reported a magnitude 5.3 earthquake in the Atlantic Ocean near Sines, Portugal, at a depth of 25 kilometers. This seismic event caused three minor aftershocks, without however causing material or personal damage. Although the earthquake was felt in several regions, including Lisbon, emergency protocols were not activated, as the magnitude did not meet the necessary criteria.
The great earthquake of 1755
He Lisbon earthquake of 1755which took place on November 1, is one of the most devastating natural disasters in European history. With a magnitude estimated between 7.5 and 9 on the Richter scale, the earthquake not only destroyed Lisbon, but also affected parts of Spain and Morocco. The city, then a thriving commercial center, was devastated by the violence of the earthquake, which lasted about six minutes. In addition to the immediate damage, the earthquake triggered two tsunamis that flooded coastlines and caused more damage, followed by fires that quickly spread through debris-strewn streets.
Estimates of the number of deaths vary. between 30,000 and 100,000which transformed Lisbon, which had around 275,000 inhabitants, into a field of ruins. The country’s economy suffered a major blow, with the loss of business infrastructure and the need to take on debt for reconstruction, worsening the economic crisis.
The earthquake also had political and social repercussions. The government’s failure to respond effectively has led to growing distrust of the monarchy. Philosophers like Voltaire questioned the optimistic beliefs of the time, arguing that the tragedy suffered by the population cannot be considered divine punishment.
He Marquis of Pombal He led the reconstruction of Lisbon, implementing a series of more modern building regulations and designing the city using a more rational approach. Their efforts not only focused on infrastructure, but also on social and educational reforms aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens.
The legacy of the 1755 earthquake lives on in the way disasters are understood and managed. natural disasters Currently. It has become a case study in geology and seismology, influencing building practices and urban planning to ensure resilience to future earthquakes, such as the one threatening Spain and Portugal.
