Today, September 27, precisely 65 years ago, the eruption of the Capelinhos volcano occurred on the island of Faial, a historic event that changed the lives of many Faial inhabitants and the history of the Azores.
The eruption of the Capelinhos Volcano lasted 13 months (between September 1957 and October 1958) destroying houses, land and families on the west coast of the island of Faial, causing many families to be evacuated to neighbouring parishes. Following this catastrophe, many families emigrated to the USA and Canada, hoping to find better living conditions.
This event made headlines all over the world, causing Portuguese-American Associations and some American congressmen to join efforts to help those affected. At the time of the eruption, American laws were not favourable to Portuguese emigration. However, through a joint effort by the Portuguese community in the USA, it got the attention of Congressman John F. Kennedy, then President of the USA, to support the Azorean Refugee Act in 1958. Kennedy went ahead with the decree process which would be approved and signed by the current president of the USA, Dwight Eisenhower.
With the approval of the decree that allowed an exception in the American emigration law, about 3572 Azoreans who were affected by the Capelinhos Volcano emigrated to the USA. Thus, between 1958 and 1960 many Faialians moved to the cities of New Bedford, Fall River, Boston, in the state of Massachusetts; Bristol, Providence, and Newport, in the state of Rhode Island; and some areas of California and also Canada.
Last modified: 28 de September, 2022
