[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 91 (Friday, July 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           AZORES EARTHQUAKE

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I want to bring to the attention of the 
Senate a rather tragic set of circumstances that has taken place in the 
Azores in the last several hours.
  Some 1,500 minor aftershocks hit the Azores last night after a strong 
earthquake struck the islands, killing 10 people, with very severe 
damages to the island of Faial in the Portuguese mid-Atlantic 
archipelago. There are many individuals sleeping out in the open, in 
the parks, and in their cars, to avoid the risk of being caught inside 
of a building if another quake should strike.
  The impact of that was 5.8 on the Richter scale, which is a very, 
very sizable earthquake.
  As I mentioned, there have been some 1,500 aftershocks. And the 
terror and loss that has struck the people in that island and in that 
archipelago is a great human tragedy. Obviously, the people of the 
United States want to reach out to all of those islanders and all of 
the people and families who have lost loved ones and those who are 
suffering injury.
  I know that the United States will do what it can in terms of help 
and assistance to the people and to the Portuguese Government, 
particularly people on those islands, and we will want to give whatever 
humanitarian help and assistance that we can.
  This happened a number of years ago. Some 40 years ago I can remember 
those circumstances, and I think many of us in Massachusetts who are 
fortunate to have families and friends who have families in the Azores 
and from the island of Faial, know that they are suffering greatly 
today, and it is appropriate that we take whatever steps, as a country, 
to help and assist them. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are 
with all the people of the Azores.

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