along its history the island has experienced many natural crises resulting in general suffering and some deaths. in the summer of 1844, during a heatwave, wherein agriculture was fatally affected and the risk of death to animals and settlers was grave, josé silvestre ribeiro (then administrator general of the district of angra do heroísmo), sent 90 wooden barrels with water and ordered the digging of several tidal wells and trenches to carry water from the mountains. these measures were instrumental in alleviating the conditions on the island, along with a strong storm on the night of august 20. the island has also suffered many seismic events, many of which caused destruction of homes and deaths. it was the case on june 13, 1730, when an earthquake near luz caused damage to many homes and damaged severally the parochial church. further earthquakes occurred in march 1787 and in 1817 without causing considerable damage. but it was not the case in 1837, when earthquakes, around january 12 and at the end of february, left most homes in praia with some damage. the church in luz almost collapsed to the ground and many died. in luz, and specifically in the area of carapacho, in addition to areas in the neighbouring parish of guadalupe, were also affected by the 1980 earthquake, with general destruction in residential areas.