Switzerland shaken by largest earthquake in 12 years

Temblor

8 years ago

The M=4.3 earthquake yesterday is the largest Switzerland has experienced in 12 years. Photo from: International Bellhop Travel Magazine)

A M=4.3 earthquake shook central Switzerland yesterday, and was felt in the country’s largest city, Zurich, approximately 60 km north of the epicenter according to the Swiss Seismological Service. While the Swiss service reported the magnitude as a M=4.6, the USGS classified it as a 4.3.

The screenshot from the Swiss Seismological Service shows the location of yesterday’s earthquake as well as where shaking was felt.

While Switzerland is not a very seismically active country, only 21 earthquakes exceeded M=2.5 in 2014, the M=6.7 Basel earthquake in 1356 is the largest earthquake ever recorded in Central Europe. If such a quake were to happen today, it would be devastating to the region. Estimates suggest that a repeat event would result in up to 1,000 casualties and economic losses reaching $140 billion (According to SwissRe). More recently there was a M=6.2 earthquake in 1855. The majority of these earthquakes are caused by the collision of the European and African plates. Having said that, yesterday’s earthquake had a strike-slip focal mechanism according to the USGS. Therefore, event is a reminder that the Alps are indeed earthquake country.

This Temblor map shows the Global Earthquake Activity Rate (GEAR) model for Switzerland. This model suggests that the likely earthquake magnitude in your lifetime for this location is 5.0-5.25.

Based on the Global Earthquake Activity Rate (GEAR) model, which forecasts earthquake magnitude all over the globe, yesterday’s event should not be considered surprising. The likely earthquake magnitude in your lifetime for this region is 5.0-5.25. Nonetheless, a M=4.3 is strong enough to cause very light damage to household objects according to the Swiss Seismological Service. The GEAR model is available in Temblor.

In addition to this model, the Swiss have developed their own seismic hazard model. One of these maps can be seen below. This model shows that yesterday’s quake occurred in a region of low to moderate seismic hazard. This map shows the peak ground acceleration with a 2% chance of occurring in 50 years.

This figure shows the Swiss Seismic Hazard Model as well as the location of yesterday’s earthquake, and the 1356 Basel earthquake.

Overall, while yesterday’s earthquake in Switzerland will not make headlines as it only resulted in moderate shaking and did not cause damage, it is a reminder that earthquakes occur all over the world. Additionally, it gives us at Temblor an opportunity to highlight that even if there haven’t been large earthquakes in a region recently, it does not mean they cannot happen.

References
Swiss Seismological Service
Stefan Wiemer, Laurentiu Danciu, Ben Edwards, Michèle Marti, Donat Fäh, Stefan Hiemer, Jochen
Wössner, Carlo Cauzzi, Philipp Kästli, Katrina Kremer, Seismic Hazard Model 2015 for Switzerland (SUIhaz2015), 2016, Swiss Seismological Service (SED) at ETH Zurich, DOI: 10.12686/a2, Link
USGS