Lisbon City Council to launch seismic risk application this week

The Lisbon City Council will launch an app this week that will allow citizens to receive information about the seismic risk of the buildings they live in, the coordinator of the municipal ReSist program told Luce on Monday.

Speaking to Lusa at the end of a talk at the European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, taking place this Monday in Lisbon, geologist Claudia Pinto explained that the LxReSist app will list the likely seismic vulnerabilities of a given building, given its age, and what actions can be taken to prevent that risk.

The coordinator said the citizen-focused app was “almost ready” and that this morning’s seismic episode would speed up its public launch.

Claudia Pinto said she would attend town hall meetings this Monday to push for disclosure.

Regarding the 5.3 magnitude shock that occurred this morning, the geologist reiterated the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, and reminded that everyone can do something to prevent seismic risk.

Claudia Pinto pointed out two simple steps: having an emergency “kit” (essentially a backpack filled with water) and checking the safety of furniture.

An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located 58 kilometers west of Sines, in the district of Setubal, was recorded at 5:11 a.m. this Monday, without causing any personal or material damage.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, the earthquake had a maximum intensity of IV/V on the Mercalli scale, classified as moderate or strong, and was accompanied by at least four aftershocks.

The shock was felt in several areas of Portugal, with greater force in the Setubal and Lisbon regions.