It is impossible to fully recount all the strange and unprecedented earthquakes that struck the island of São Miguel in the year of 1563. Many tremors occurred each year, as is common in lands surrounded by the sea—especially islands.

Nor can one properly describe the fires that followed these earthquakes across the island, particularly in Ribeira Grande, which I will now relate. The events were so terrifying that many believed the island itself would perish. The horrors witnessed convinced people that death was certain and the end of all things had come.

This fear was intensified by memory of an earlier catastrophe, forty-one years before, in 1522, when a great earthquake caused a mountain to collapse over Vila Franca do Campo. In a single moment, mud and debris engulfed the town, killing nearly all its inhabitants.

In that first disaster, death came suddenly, without warning. In this second event, however, the people were warned—yet none died. Still, the fear was even greater.

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A World on the Brink

The center of the island burned.
The earth trembled constantly.
The sea swayed violently.
The air roared with the crashing of stones thrown upward like artillery.

People were paralyzed with terror. Many believed they were witnessing the Final Judgment.

The fear spread across the entire island. Yet each town experienced different phenomena, making it impossible to describe everything.

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June 25, 1563 — The Tremors Begin

On Friday evening, June 25, small but frequent tremors began. At first, they caused little alarm, as such tremors were common.

But before midnight, the earth had shaken more than thirty times.

Fear grew quickly. People remembered the destruction of Vila Franca and rushed to churches, organizing processions and prayers. No one dared remain inside their homes.

The tremors continued throughout the night and into Saturday, growing stronger and more frequent.

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June 28 — Panic Takes Hold

By Monday afternoon, on the eve of Saint Peter’s Day, the earthquakes had intensified dramatically.

Priests rang the church bells, gathering the entire population. A solemn procession began. People wept, embraced one another, and asked forgiveness for past grievances.

At the convent of Jesus, the nuns were found outside, overcome with fear.

Then came terrifying sounds—deep, thunder-like roars that stunned everyone. Many believed the world was ending.

Even as a priest tried to calm the people, preaching while being physically supported to avoid falling during the tremors, panic spread uncontrollably.

That night, fear was even worse.

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A Night of Chaos and Destruction

The ground never stopped trembling.

People reported hearing massive forces moving beneath the earth, like artillery rolling underground. The land shifted violently, like a boat tossed on waves.

Houses collapsed across Ribeira Grande.
Others cracked open, becoming uninhabitable.
Church towers split. Bells rang on their own due to the shaking.

By midnight, a massive dark cloud rose from the volcanic mountain. It reached toward the sky, filled with flashes of fire like countless comets.

It looked like the heavens themselves were burning.

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The Volcanic Eruption

Soon it became clear:
the mountain had erupted.

Fire, smoke, and explosions burst from the earth. Towers of flame rose into the sky. Stones as large as houses were hurled great distances.

Ash and pumice rained across the island.

The air filled with smoke so thick it resembled hell itself.

Lightning flashed within the cloud. Thunder roared continuously. The smell was unbearable.

People could not hear one another over the noise.

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Total Panic

Society broke down completely.

Families were separated.
Parents lost children.
Husbands and wives fled in different directions.

People wandered aimlessly, like sheep without a shepherd.

Even noblewomen fled alone into the wilderness or toward the city.

The town of Ribeira Grande was abandoned by morning.

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Destruction Across the Island

Ash covered fields for miles.
Crops were destroyed.
Livestock died in great numbers.
Entire regions became infertile for years.

The darkness was so intense that daytime resembled night.

Pumice stones fell in such quantities that they formed floating masses at sea, stretching beyond sight.

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Visions and Interpretations

On July 1st, new explosions and fiery displays appeared.

Some claimed to see thousands of demons in the clouds, throwing fire at each other, driven toward the sea by a giant figure dressed in white—believed to be Saint Michael, protector of the island.

A more rational explanation later emerged:
burning trees and debris, thrown into the air by the eruption, created shapes that resembled figures.

But at the time, the people believed they had witnessed a divine battle.

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Aftermath

By July 2nd, some inhabitants cautiously returned to Ribeira Grande and held a traditional procession.

Yet fear remained.

New eruptions appeared nearby, reigniting panic.

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Final Reflection

Despite the immense destruction—collapsed buildings, ruined lands, and widespread terror—not a single human life was lost in this second catastrophe.

To the people of the time, this was both a warning and an act of mercy.

A reminder of divine power…
and divine restraint.