November 23, 1973 Earthquake: Pico, Faial, Terceira, Azores
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Pico, Faial, Terceira, Azores on November 23, 1973 at 13:36:19 UTC, 5 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- November 23, 1973
- Time
- 13:36:19 UTC
- Place
- Pico, Faial, Terceira, Azores
- Magnitude
- 5.1 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 5 km (3 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 38.460° N, 28.310° W
- Country
- Azores
The toll
- Injuries
- 1; Few (about 1 to 50) with its tsunami and other effects
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
one killed (reference #1053)
one injured; severe damage in the northern part of Pico. Seismic crisis started in October 1973 and lasted until the first months of 1974. (reference #13058)
Note: reference #12490 and reference #13058 do not list deaths.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 9, 1757, Sao Jorge, Azores
- January 1, 1980, Terceira, Angra do Heroismo, Azores
- July 9, 1998, Faial, Pico, Terceira, Azores
- August 31, 1926, Fayal Island, Azores
- December 21, 1852, Faial, Azores
- June 13, 1730, Luz, Azores
- February 18, 1964, Azores
- May 14, 1958, Azores
- June 26, 1989, Graciosa, Terceira, Azores
- May 17, 1547, Santa Barbara, Fregues, Azores
- May 4, 1614, Praia, Azores
- February 28, 1968, Azores
- August 12, 1720, Sao Miguel (San Miguel), Azores
- December 8, 1720, Atlantic, Azores
- November 21, 1988, Sao Miguel Island, Azores
More
Significant earthquakes of 1973The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1973Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 4649.