An earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale was recorded off the coast of Monaco late in the evening on 16th December, with the effects felt throughout the Principality and across neighbouring regions in France and Italy. No damage or injuries have been reported.

At precisely 10.22pm on Monday 16th December, an earthquake was detected 29.5 kilometres off the coast of Bordighera, an Italian town just over the border in Italy, at a depth of 11 kilometres.

Residents in Monaco and across the Alpes-Maritimes, including areas such as Nice and Cannes, as well as parts of the Var and Italy, reported feeling the tremors.

According to Sismoazur, the Géoazur laboratory that records real-time seismicity in the southeast of France, a second earthquake followed the initial tremor, occurring at 5.23am on Tuesday 17th December. This second event was more minor, measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale, and is estimated to have been at a depth of 13 kilometres.

What exactly is an earthquake?

Earthquakes occur due to the sudden release of energy stored in the Earth’s crust, resulting in seismic waves that ripple through the ground. This release is often triggered by the movement of tectonic plates. In the Mediterranean region, such events are common due to the collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Over time, stress accumulates along fault lines until it is released, producing earthquakes like the tremors noted by Sismoazur.

With a magnitude of 3.7, the 16th December earthquake falls into the category of moderate seismic activity. While this level of tremor rarely causes significant structural damage, it is often felt by people, particularly when the quake occurs at shallow depths.

So far, no injuries or damages have been reported. However, the event caused understandable concern among residents in affected areas, many of whom shared their experiences on social media and with local authorities.

The authorities have sought to reassure the public that there is no immediate cause for alarm, but the situation will be closely monitored.

For more information about seismic activity in the region, click here.

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Photo source: Sismoazur via Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo and the GIS User Community