Several residents in Portimão reported feeling the earthquake, with many people reported to have headed outdoors as the earth shook beneath them just after 7pm. The tremor was felt as far west as Aljezur and Faro to the east.
One resident in Alvor told The Portugal News: “We have been living here for more than 20 years and while we have felt some earthquakes over the years, this was by far the strongest.”
Another frightened resident in Praia da Rocha said: “My whole house jumped. It was like an explosion with no bang.”
In a statement, the Portuguese Met Office said it was recorded 8 kilometres northwest of Portimão.
The earthquake did not cause any significant damage.