Two earthquakes measuring 4.1 and 3.8 magnitude have struck north of Nice within a matter of hours, sending shockwaves throughout the Alpes Maritimes and Monaco. 

The first 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit Coaraze, near Levens, at 6.45pm. 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.

According to SismoAZure, a series of smaller earthquakes followed, before another large earthquake, measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale, struck at 10.25pm, sending another shockwave across a large distance, including Monaco. 

While authorities are not reporting any injuries, they are reportedly being inundated by calls from concerned residents. 

As one resident in Contes told Monaco Life after the first 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit: “I must admit I was scared. The windows started vibrating, everything shook, and there was a huge bang. For a moment, I thought the house was going to collapse.”

Social media has been flooded with similar responses from residents throughout Monaco and the Alpes Maritimes. 

Ahead of Tuesday night’s significant tremors, 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.

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Image source: SisoAsure