In a statement, the IPMA said that the earthquake had its epicentre about 35 kilometres south of Funchal and was recorded at 4:32am today (16 February) at the stations of the Mainland Seismic Network.

This earthquake was felt with maximum intensity V (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos.

It was also felt to a lesser extent in the municipalities of Funchal, Machico, Ribeira Brava and Santa Cruz, on the island of Madeira.

The IPMA had previously reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale, but has since updated this to 5.0.

The Funchal City Council said in a statement released at 5:33am that no events related to the quake had been recorded.

According to the IPMA, the intensity V of the modified Mercalli scale means that the shock “is felt outside the house, people are woken up, small objects in unstable equilibrium move or are knocked over, doors sway, close or open, shutters and frames move and clock pendulums stop or start or change their state of oscillation”.