A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck near Nice on Tuesday at 6:45 pm, sending tremors across the Alpes-Maritimes region, including Monaco. The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 16.3 km, was widely felt due to its proximity to the surface, making the shaking more pronounced than a deeper event of similar magnitude.

In Monaco, residents reported feeling the ground move for a brief moment. While there were no reports of damage or injuries, the unexpected tremor served as a reminder that seismic activity is not uncommon in the region. Despite Monaco not sitting directly on a major fault line, its location near seismically active areas means occasional tremors can be felt in the Principality.

Residents throughout the entire Alpes-Maritimes region who felt the tremor wasted no time checking their phones to see if others had experienced the same thing.

“I must admit I was scared,” Marie, a resident of Contes near the epicentre, told Monaco Life. “The windows started vibrating, everything shook, and there was a huge bang. For a moment, I thought the house was going to collapse.”

The event was part of ongoing seismic activity in France, which recorded a total of 46 earthquakes in the past day. Alongside Tuesday night’s tremor in Coaraze, which has initially been identified as a magnitude 3.9 but could be as high as 4.1, there were four earthquakes between magnitudes 2 and 3, and 41 smaller quakes below magnitude 2 that would typically go unnoticed. Earlier in the day, a magnitude 3.2 quake was also detected near Montpellier at a depth of 5 km.

Authorities in Monaco continue to monitor seismic events, though no emergency measures were required following this tremor. Residents are encouraged to remain aware of earthquake preparedness guidelines, as occasional tremors are a natural part of the region’s geological activity.

For further updates on seismic activity and safety measures, residents can follow local government advisories.

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