Underground rumbles and tremors scare residents and mobilize authorities in Barretos, SP

It's like vibrations in the ground after an explosion.

Resident Vânia Luiza Gonçalves' definition summarizes the constant fear experienced by families in the Mais Parque neighborhood, in Barretos (SP), whenever it gets dark.

About two weeks ago, the bang followed by the shaking of doors and windows became part of the neighborhood's routine, according to Civil Defense.

The municipal secretary of Public Order and Civil Defense, Igor Santiago, explains that the episodes do not have a fixed time, but are concentrated in the early hours, between midnight and 4am.

Faced with the increase in complaints, the municipal administration contacted the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB) to carry out a geological field study.

While waiting for the experts, Civil Defense works with engineering teams and the Autonomous Water and Sewage Service (SAAE) to analyze pipes, check the accommodation of soil layers and inspect any irregular drilling of artesian wells.

Despite popular apprehension, the secretary emphasizes that the region has no history of earthquakes and advises the population to remain calm.

We are not in a disaster situation. We contacted the State Civil Defense and the Bebedouro (SP) seismology team, and no earthquakes were identified in the municipality. These are small tremors, nothing that could cause panic, says the secretary.

The lack of an answer about what is actually happening keeps the neighborhood on alert. Lawyer Talita Espíndola, who has lived in the area for four years, says that the sudden bangs changed the routine in the house and made it difficult to calm her young children at night.

There are some very scary bangs. It usually makes a loud noise and then immediately shakes the house, the window rattles, the dogs all come out barking. Nobody can explain why. It's not a simple thing, it's a scary thing, he reports.

She remembers that, on one of the most intense mornings, she found more than 100 neighbors awake and connected to the neighborhood message group. We want to know what is happening to know if it is something we need to take precautions against.

The intensity of the noise is so great that it scares even those trying to remain calm, according to Vânia.

It's so loud that you're scared enough to shrink your body. It's not something that shook or knocked over a glass, it's a vibration in the ground that you feel after the noise. It's scary when it comes up high. We don't know where it comes from and we want this to end as quickly as possible, let it out.

Barretos Civil Defense advises that any new occurrence or abnormality observed in properties be reported immediately by calling 199.