Significant Earthquake Strikes SW France

ANN

Rare earthquake strikes near La Rochelle, SW France

Many of the region’s residents who reported the event described it as being like an “explosion,” lasting about 6 seconds.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 5.0ML [emsc-csem.org]
Region: SW FRANCE
Location: 46.06ºN, 1.11ºW
Depth: 10km
Date & time: 2016-04-28 06:46:50.4 UTC
Distances:

• 2 km SW of Châtelaillon-Plage, France / pop: 6,059
• 12 km S of La Rochelle, France / pop: 76,810
• 125 km SW of Poitiers, France / pop: 85,960
• 356 km S of Saint Helier, Jersey / pop: 28,000

The largest of 51 earthquakes ever reported in the region [50-km radius of latest event]

• M5.2 France (45.930°N 1.310°W; depth=10.0 km)2005-04-18 06:42:50 UTC 10.0 km

The largest of 12 earthquakes ever reported in the region [25-km radius of latest event]

• M3.9 France (46.208°N 1.515°W; depth=2.0 km) 2013-03-06 at 22:40:58 UTC  [USGS/EHP]