Earthquake in RJ: see what we know about the seismic event

An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 was recorded on the coast of Rio de Janeiro this Thursday morning (21), at 5:31 am. The earthquake occurred near the municipality of Maricá and was confirmed by the Brazilian Seismographic Network (RSBR).

According to monitoring centers, there were no reports that the population felt the phenomenon on dry land.

Causes and associated risks
According to the seismologist at the National Observatory, Dr. Gilberto Leite, tremors of this nature are frequent in Brazil and result from tectonic tensions that act on the Earth's crust.

The expert highlights that the southeastern margin of Brazil is considered the main offshore seismic zone in the country, where small earthquakes occur regularly.

Despite the record, the event is classified as low magnitude.

"This type of event is relatively common in Brazil and does not represent a significant risk to the population", stated the seismologist in a technical note.

In most cases recorded on the Brazilian coast, these shocks are not noticed by the inhabitants.

Monitoring and location of the earthquake
The event was captured by RSBR stations and analyzed by the USP Seismology Center.

See also: Earthquake or tremors in MG? Understand differences between seismic events

The quick location of the tremor was possible thanks to transmission reactivation work carried out by the National Observatory, which coordinates the network with other educational institutions.

RSBR uses data from more than 90 seismological stations to monitor seismicity in the national territory, aiming to mitigate risks and disseminate technical information to society and government agencies.

Source: CNN