If you live near Montreux you might have felt an earthquake yesterday at 10:48 am when one measuring 4.2 struck.
Swiss Seismological Service
The quake was widely felt in the region and the police received a number of calls from concerned residents. Many would have heard a loud bang.
The quake’s epicentre was around 15 km from Montreux in the French region of Haute Savoie – see image above.
An earthquake of 4.2 is considered strong and this quake was the 16th strongest shake Switzerland has experienced since 2002.
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Over the last 90 days, there have been around 300 tremors in Switzerland and the region surrounding Switzerland – see list.
Most or these are imperceptible, however they are a gentle reminder of the many fault lines running through the country.
The strongest and most destructive earthquake recorded in Switzerland occurred in Basel in 1356, a quake estimated to be in the range of 6.7 to 7.2. This is the largest recorded seismic event in Central Europe.
More on this:
Earthquakes and the Alps – Swiss seismological service (in English)
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