In the wake of the 4.1 magnitude earthquake that struck southern France in the early evening of Tuesday 18th March, some 20 aftershocks of varying intensity have been recorded across the region. That first quake was by far the strongest, but a longer 3.8 Richter tremor was also noted by scientists just before 10.30pm, leading to an outpouring of concerned posts on social media from locals who feared that more was to come.

Since the initial 4.1 magnitude earthquake, which occurred at a depth of around 16 kilometres below the town of Coaraze, about 45 minutes north of Nice, around 20 additional quakes ranging from 0.8 to 3.8 on the Richter scale had been recorded as of 10am on Wednesday 19th March. The strongest aftershock came at 10.24pm and lasted noticeably longer than the first tremor, though both were accompanied by an unsettling boom.

Social media platforms were immediately flooded with reports of the first quake, with residents across the Côte d’Azur, as well as in Monaco and the neighbouring Italian region of Piedmont, sharing their personal experiences. Some wrote of rattling windows and doors, others noted the disquieting sound that accompanied the two strongest quakes, while those who have lived in the area for much of their lives spoke of memories of a similarly strong earthquake some 20 years ago.

In a bid to reassure the public, the Préfecture des Alpes-Maritimes published a statement on its own social media pages: “An earthquake with an estimated magnitude between 3.9 and 4.1 on the Richter scale was felt around 6.30pm this evening, with its epicentre located 10 km north of Nice. No injuries have been reported, but numerous calls have been received by emergency services. There is no risk of a tsunami or any expected impact on building or hillside/mountain infrastructure. State services remain on alert.”

Following the 3.8 Richter aftershock later that evening, a second statement was released: “A seismic aftershock was felt a few minutes ago at various locations across the department. This phenomenon, a lower-magnitude aftershock occurring in the hours and days following the initial event, is typical according to seismic experts… Aware that this may cause concern, it is important not to overwhelm emergency services with calls unless in urgent cases. State services remain mobilised and thank the people of the Alpes-Maritimes for their sense of responsibility.”

Earthquakes are common in this part of the Mediterranean, but a quake as strong as 4.1 is somewhat unusual.

Quakes of this strength can be easily felt by humans, but damage, if any, is minor. An estimated 500,000 earthquakes measuring between 2.5 and 5.1 in magnitude are recorded around the world each year. Meanwhile, Epos-France, the European Plate Observing System, typically reports 4,000 quakes annually on the French mainland.

Read related:

Two earthquakes shake Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes in a matter of hours

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Photo source: Bureau Central Sismologique Français