Volcano experts warned on the 29th that more than 20,000 small earthquakes have occurred on a volcanic island in Portugal in 11 days, which is quite similar to the sudden and frequent seismic activity before the eruption of the old Cumblay volcano in Spain last year.

　　The Portuguese Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Center said that the island of Sao Jorge in the central Azores had frequent seismic activity since the 19th, and as of the night of the 29th, more than 20,000 small earthquakes had been monitored.

The most intense one occurred on the night of the 29th, reaching a magnitude of 3.8.

　　The monitoring data of the Portuguese Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Research is slightly different, showing that the earthquake in Sao Jorge Island reached a magnitude of 4 on the night of the 29th.

　　From past experience, the sudden occurrence of hundreds or even thousands of earthquakes around volcanoes is a typical precursor to volcanic eruptions.

Therefore, although there have been no casualties or property damage caused by the continuous small earthquakes in the past few days, the residents of São Jorge Island are still worried, worried that the island will suffer the first volcanic eruption since 1808.

　　Portuguese volcano experts say the island of São Jorge is seismically active, very similar to the earthquakes that preceded the eruption of the old Cumblay volcano.

The old Cumbre volcano is located on the island of La Palma in the northwest of the Canary Islands, about 1,400 kilometers southeast of the Azores.

　　Since September last year, the eruption of the old Kumbray volcano continued for nearly three months before it "suppressed". No direct casualties were caused, but about 3,000 buildings and large tracts of farmland were damaged, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

　　The Volcano Institute of the Canary Islands has closely monitored the eruption of Old Cumblay.

The institute speculated on the 29th that if the São Jorge Island volcano erupts, the amount of magma ejected may reach 20 million cubic meters.

　　Luka Doria, director of the Institute of Volcanology of the Canary Islands, told the media that soil deformation caused by volcanic activity on São Jorge had been monitored, and that "either nothing will happen or an eruption" will follow.

　　São Jorge has about 8,400 inhabitants.

At present, the elderly and people with limited mobility living in the areas where the quake was most strongly felt on the island have been evacuated, some schools have been closed, and classrooms have been converted into temporary medical points.

　　Francisco Fonseca, the island's health department official, said that medical staff with experience in natural disasters had been sent to São Jorge. "The current situation is a challenge, stressful and unusual."

　　In addition to São Jorge, the nearby islands of Terceira, Pico and Faial have also felt earthquakes in recent days, and they are all volcanic islands.

Eduardo Farias, chief officer of the Azores Civil Protection Department, reminded: "Residents must remain vigilant and not slack off."

　　Farias said the Portuguese Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Centre will study monitoring data from the Institute of Volcanology of the Canary Islands.

He appealed to local residents to remain calm and not panic.

Previously, the Civil Defense Department has reminded residents to pay attention to earthquake dynamics and follow the government's arrangements.