Earthquake - Earthquake wakes many in Baden-Württemberg from sleep
In Baden-Württemberg, Southern Germany, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake woke up several people early on Thursday morning. According to the Landeserdbebendienst (LED) based at the government presidium in Freiburg, the earthquake was recorded at around 03.06 am near the community of Schopfheim (district of Lörch).
The earthquake was reportedly felt in wide areas of Baden-Württemberg. Over 3000 reports from residents were received, the LED stated further. More than 30 aftershocks have been registered so far, the strongest one with a magnitude of 1.7. No information was available yet regarding possible damages.
The earthquake, according to LED, was the strongest with an epicenter in the region since 2009. The last comparable earthquake occurred on May 5, 2009, near Steinen (district of Lörch) with a magnitude of 4.5. LED expert Andrea Bruestle pointed out that light building damages in the vicinity of the epicenter cannot be ruled out for earthquakes of this magnitude.
Baden-Württemberg, according to a statement, is one of the German federal states with the highest seismic risk. However, the activity is considered moderate in global comparison and not comparable to seismic activity areas along tectonic plate boundaries. Bruestle added on Thursday: "The collision of the African Plate with the Eurasian Plate causes the Alps to uplift. The effects of this plate collision continue further north, including in Baden-Württemberg, leading to seismic activity."
Statement Landeserdbebendienst
The earthquake that shook Baden-Württemberg on Thursday morning was not only felt in the district of Lörch, but also in neighboring communities, such as Schopfheim. In fact, Fribourg, a city in Switzerland, reportedly felt mild tremors due to this seismic activity, making Lörrach the epicenter of an event that stretched beyond its borders.
