In the digital age, everything that is searched for on major portals leaves traces — and sometimes these traces raise unexpected questions. That’s what happened with a Google alert that mentioned the city of Alfredo Wagner , in Santa Catarina, on an unusual page: the website VolcanoDiscovery.com , which specializes in seismic and volcanic monitoring around the world.
Even more curious is that the source of the access was from Russia . A Russian user accessed a page about “Latest earthquakes in or near Alfredo Wagner”, which raised questions: what would have led someone, on the other side of the planet, to search for seismic activity exactly here?
Why would someone look for earthquakes in Alfredo Wagner?
The question remains unanswered, but it raises interesting possibilities. Could it be someone studying global seismic activity, trying to map occurrences outside major epicenters? Or perhaps someone involved in mining, infrastructure, or even geological tourism?
Although it may seem unlikely, Alfredo Wagner has already appeared among the search results of internet users from Nepal , China , Nigeria , among other countries. In general, they are queries about distance between cities, inns and natural attractions , such as the beautiful landscapes of Soldados Sebold or trails near BR-282.
However, a specific search for earthquakes sparks legitimate curiosity.
Earthquakes in Santa Catarina: a rare but not non-existent reality
The region’s seismic history is not completely silent. According to the same VolcanoDiscovery website, three earthquakes with magnitudes above 3 have been recorded nearby since 1900 :
- April 13, 2018 – Magnitude 3.2, recorded 4.7 km from Santo Amaro da Imperatriz
- October 2, 1969 – Magnitude 4.8, in the South Atlantic Ocean , near Imbituba
- January 29, 1968 – Magnitude 4.5, near Gaspar
Although light and without major damage, these tremors demonstrate that the subsoil of Santa Catarina, from time to time, shows signs of activity.
Are we safe?
Everything indicates that it does. The region is not located on any active geological fault and the recorded episodes were rare, isolated and of low intensity. Still, the curiosity of the Russian internet user reminds us that we are, indeed, connected to the world — and that even a city like Alfredo Wagner can suddenly be the focus of international geological attention.
And, who knows, this might inspire a closer look at what surrounds us. After all, every tremor — even a small one — can hide stories, data and connections that we don’t always notice at first glance.
