Bahia leads the ranking of earthquakes among Northeast states in November

Bahia was the state in the Northeast with the highest number of earthquakes in the month of November, with 14 earthquakes recorded. The report was released by the Seismological Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Labsis – UFRN), which is a reference in this type of occurrence in the region.

Behind Bahia are: Alagoas (5), Pernambuco (3) and Ceará (2). Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe, Piauí, Paraíba and Maranhão had no earthquakes. In total, there were 24 seismic events in the Northeast.

According to the study, in Bahia, the tremors were felt in the cities of Jaguarari (7), Sítio do Mato (1), Jacobina (3) and in the Atlantic Ocean in the south of Bahia (3).

Professor Anderson Nascimento, coordinator of LabSis/URFB, explained to CNN that tremors starting at 1.5 mR in magnitude are already felt by the population, such as the movement of objects inside the house, for example.

In the case of the city in the north of the state, which recorded the highest number of earthquakes, in Jaguarari, the cases did not exceed 1.9 mR in magnitude. Although residents felt the tremor, there was no record of structural damage in the city. The highest magnitude was recorded on November 14, in the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of Bahia, with 2.9 mR.

Also according to the university, the magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of its power, based on the energy released at its epicenter, and is determined through seismograph readings. Currently, many seismologists use the term “moment magnitude” for medium to high-power earthquakes. Although this scale is calculated differently from the old Richter scale, the values ​​obtained are comparable and allow us to assess the intensity of the tremors.

Important safety tips on how to act during an earthquake released by LabSis:

1. Protect yourself first! When you feel an earthquake, take cover under a table and use a
   cushion to protect the head from falling objects.
2. 2 Once the shaking stops, check for sources of fire and extinguish or turn them off
   (including gas ovens).
3. Try to remain calm and avoid dropped or broken objects. Also, stay indoors
   to prevent falling objects, such as signs in front of buildings, if possible.
4. Open a door or window so you can escape if necessary. (Doors and windows may be
   warping and sticking if the building’s foundation shifts too much)
5. If you are outside, try to stay away from walls, gates or any object that could
   topple.
6. In case of fire or tsunami danger, go to a designated evacuation area.
   Head for higher ground if you are on the coast.
7. Obtain accurate and official information and follow instructions. (In 2011, there was a flood
   of inaccurate information that spread online after the earthquake.)
8. Make sure your family and neighbors are okay. Obviously, you’ll want to be careful
   when going outdoors.
9. Work with neighbors to help others who need first aid or
   rescue. Use common sense!
10. In case of evacuation, be sure to turn off the circuit breaker and gas mains in your office
    or home before leaving, weather permitting

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