The morning of November 8 in the province of Pontevedra began with an unexpected event—several towns felt a tremor. Seismologists recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4, the epicenter located just eight kilometers from Vila de Cruces. The quake originated at a depth of several kilometers, allowing the seismic waves to spread over a wide area.
Despite its perceptible strength, the incident caused neither damage nor injuries. Most residents of Silleda, Touro, and Boqueixón didn’t even notice the tremors—many simply went about their day, unaware of what was happening underground. For some, it became a topic of discussion on social media, but there was no panic.
Seismological services reminded the public of how important their feedback is. There’s a special questionnaire where anyone can describe their experience: whether they were at home or outside, asleep or awake, and if objects around them moved. This data helps experts more accurately assess the impact and warn about possible risks in the future.
Interestingly, the tradition of gathering this kind of information from the public dates back to the 18th century. After the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake that claimed tens of thousands of lives, Spain introduced a special survey for its citizens. Since then, the format and questions have changed, but the core idea remains—understanding how people react to natural disasters and how prepared they are to face them.
It is worth noting that this incident has been the most significant in the region over the past six months. In November, minor tremors had already been recorded in the area, but this latest one was stronger than the previous events, including the one in August when the magnitude did not exceed 2.6. Nevertheless, the level of risk remains low, and local residents do not need to worry about any serious consequences.
