An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 to 5.8 on the Richter scale was felt in western France, particularly in Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime. The evaluation of the seismological event is still in progress.
” The West of France was hit by a powerful earthquake, the evaluation of which is in progress but estimated at around 5.8 on the Richter scale », asks Christophe Béchu on his Twitter account. The tremor was felt in several French departments, in the West, shortly after 6:30 p.m.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located in Deux-Sèvres. In a village in the department, a person was injured after being struck on the head by a tile and taken to hospital. The earthquake, which vibrated buildings for several seconds, also caused extensive damage to infrastructure – such as cracks, collapsed walls, fallen tiles.
Authorities remind that local populations must remain attentive at the risk of aftershocks which can occur a few hours to a few days later.
A magnitude of 5.8
” This is one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in metropolitan France. », says Christophe Béchu. And indeed, one of the last earthquakes to date having been so strong – that is to say with a magnitude greater than 5 – dates back to November 11, 2019, all along the Rhône. This was then 5.4 on the Richter scale.
For the one that just took place on June 16, the National Seismic Monitoring Network (Renass) displays a magnitude of 5.3. The Renass also confirms the 6:38 p.m. schedule. But the state of the evaluation is currently classified as “preliminary”, the assessment must therefore be specified.
The exact figure, depending on the seismological sources, varies, but it depends in particular on the method of calculation. There are different types of magnitudes: the Renass site displays the unit in MLv, therefore in “vertical magnitude”. Prefecture evoked rather a magnitude of 5.8. This is the figure to retain immediately, unless subsequent analysis modifies this figure.
The prefecture is based, a priori, on data from the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), which, in its data, is 5.8 on the Richter scale. On the map provided by the CEA, we can also observe the area affected and the intensity of the tremors (the larger the green dot, the higher the recorded magnitude).
The epicenter is located more particularly on the border between Deux-Sévres and Charente-Maritime; between Niort and La Rochelle. In Charente-Maritime, 1,000 homes were deprived of electricity.
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