A magnitude 5.5 earthquake shakes Portugal and is felt in Galicia and Morocco.

In the early hours of Monday, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake surprised much of Portugal, generating not only concern in the neighboring country but also an echo of unease felt in several regions of Galicia and other parts of Spain and Morocco. The experience was particularly intense for Ángel Méndez, a resident of Ourense who was on vacation in Costa de Caparica, just a short distance from the epicenter of the tremor. Ángel recounted his experience from the hotel where he was staying, remembering how everything started shaking at 5:10 AM. "We were in bed and it began to move," he recalls with a shaky voice, still visibly affected by the situation. The night, which had been planned as a quiet farewell to his trip, turned into a moment of panic and distress. As the shaking intensified, the room became a chaotic scene. "Objects started falling to the floor," he remembers. Fear took hold of him and his companions, who experienced a mix of surprise and anguish at the unexpected situation. "We were quite scared and quite shaken," he admits, reflecting the emotions that dominated that moment. After the tremor, the hotel staff responded quickly. Ángel hurried to speak with the reception to get information about what had happened. The hotel team, although alarmed, asked guests to remain calm. They explained that since it had not exceeded a magnitude of 6, it was not necessary to activate all alarms. However, the unease among those present was palpable. The earthquake left a sense of instability, both physical and emotional. "It was a feeling of great instability and helplessness," Ángel confesses, who couldn’t help but recall another earthquake he had experienced years earlier. "This was completely different from what we experienced in the Triacastela earthquake in 1997," he points out, comparing two experiences that, although both terrifying, marked his life in different ways. The decision to return to Ourense was not easy, but anxiety and the need for safety led Ángel and his group to leave their stay in Costa de Caparica. "We decided to come back to Ourense," he explains, hoping that tranquility would reign in their lives once again. The Galician community, for its part, has been attentive to the situation. The news of the earthquake has generated an exchange of messages of support and solidarity among those who have had similar experiences. The feeling of vulnerability is a shared sentiment, especially among those who have been in risky situations. Such natural events, although difficult to predict, remind us of the fragility of life and how unpredictable our environments can be. Ángel Méndez's experience is a testament to how a moment of relaxation can quickly transform into a crisis situation. Earthquakes, although less frequent in certain regions, remain a relevant reminder of the challenges we face in a constantly shifting world. For many, like Ángel, this event has left an indelible mark on their memory, as well as a renewed sense of caution and respect for the power of nature. Meanwhile, Portuguese authorities have begun assessing the damage and offering assistance to those affected, in an attempt to restore normalcy in the areas that suffered the consequences of the tremor. Recovery will be a slow process, but the resilience of the affected communities will always find a way to move forward.