Bavaria's Earthquake History: A Geological Mystery

Earthquakes are a relatively common occurrence in Germany, with several taking place each year. While they are usually weak, they can sometimes cause damage and power outages. Bavaria, a region in the south of Germany, has experienced a total of 1722 earthquakes since the 1950s.

The strongest earthquake recorded near Bavaria was a 5.30-magnitude earthquake with a depth of 8.0 kilometres. It struck 4 kilometres south-southwest of Jungingen, Germany, or 191 kilometres southwest from the centre of Bavaria, 45 years ago.

Earthquakes in Bavaria are relatively infrequent, with an average of 103 magnitude 2 or higher earthquakes per year

Earthquakes in Bavaria are relatively infrequent. On average, there are 103 earthquakes of magnitude 2 or higher per year. In the past 365 days, there have been no earthquakes in Bavaria of magnitude 1.5 or greater.

The last earthquake in Bavaria occurred on 21 May 2024. It had a magnitude of 1.7 and was centred 5.1 km (3.2 mi) away from Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria. The quake was too small to be felt by people.

In the past 7 days, there have been 9 quakes of magnitudes up to 2.2 in Bavaria. All of these were below magnitude 2 and therefore not felt by people.

The strongest earthquake recorded near Bavaria in the past 7 days had a magnitude of 2.2. This occurred on 18 May 2024, 8.9 km (5.5 mi) away from Rüsselsheim am Main, Hesse, Germany.

The strongest earthquake recorded near Bavaria in the past 30 days had a magnitude of 3.9. This occurred on 1 June 2024, 2.2 km (1.2 mi) away from Todtmoos, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

The strongest earthquake recorded near Bavaria was a 5.30-magnitude earthquake with an 8.0-kilometre depth

Earthquakes are a relatively rare occurrence in Bavaria, Germany. When they do happen, they tend to be weak. However, one notable exception to this trend occurred 45 years ago when a 5.30-magnitude earthquake struck 4km south-southwest of Jungingen, Germany. This earthquake had a hypocentre depth of 8.0 kilometres and was felt 191 km (119 mi) southwest from the centre of Bavaria.

This earthquake is notable for being the strongest recorded near Bavaria in recent times. While earthquakes in this region are typically weak, this particular event caused a significant amount of shaking and likely resulted in some damage to nearby areas. The depth of the earthquake is also worth noting, as it was relatively shallow compared to other earthquakes. Shallower earthquakes tend to have a more concentrated impact on the areas closest to the epicentre.

The 5.30-magnitude earthquake that occurred near Bavaria is considered a moderate earthquake on the Richter scale. Earthquakes of this magnitude can cause slight damage to buildings and other structures, particularly if they are not designed or constructed to withstand seismic activity. It is important to note that the effects of an earthquake can vary depending on the distance from the epicentre, the local geological and soil conditions, and the type of construction used for buildings in the affected area.

In comparison to other regions, Bavaria experiences a relatively low number of earthquakes. On average, there are about 481 earthquakes per year in or near Bavaria, with most of them being relatively minor. However, it is important to note that larger earthquakes with magnitudes above 5.0 have occurred in the past, and there is a possibility of them occurring again in the future.

Earthquakes in Germany are relatively weak but occur several times a year, some in coal mining areas

Earthquakes in Germany tend to be relatively weak, but they do occur several times a year, and some happen in coal mining areas. Germany has experienced several earthquakes in the past year, including a 4.2-magnitude earthquake in Todtmoos, Baden-Württemberg, which was the largest in the country during that period. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, has not experienced any earthquakes in the past year, but the surrounding region has seen some minor tremors. Bavaria itself experienced a magnitude 3.4 earthquake in October 2022, centred 189 km southwest of the city.

Bavaria and the surrounding regions have a long history of seismic activity, with thousands of earthquakes recorded since the 1950s. While most of these quakes are minor, some have caused significant damage. For example, a 4.0-magnitude quake in 2008, attributed to coal mining, caused chimneys to fall and triggered power outages. This event led to protests, with around 1,000 people demanding an end to mining work in the area.

Bavaria's location in the south of Germany places it in a tectonically active zone. This activity is caused by the continuing effects of the Alpine orogeny as the African Plate pushes northwards into the Eurasian Plate. This zone includes the Rhine Rift Valley, which extends from Switzerland into the Benelux countries, and the European Cenozoic Rift System, which transects parts of Germany. As a result of these geological processes, several areas across Germany are susceptible to earthquakes, including zones on the northern edge of the Alps, around Lake Constance, and in the Vogtland region.

While most earthquakes in Germany are weak, stronger tremors are possible. Seismologists consider earthquakes of up to 6.4 magnitude on the Richter scale to be theoretically possible in the Lower Rhine Graben seismic zone. This region is the most seismically active in Germany and experiences the country's strongest quakes, with a major event (approximately 5.5 to 6.0 magnitude) occurring approximately every 200 years. A stronger earthquake in this region would endanger several German and Benelux cities, including Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Leverkusen.

The strongest earthquake recorded in Germany was a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Düren in 1756

On 18 February 1756, at about 8 am, Germany experienced its strongest recorded earthquake. The hypocentre of the quake was judged to have been at 14–16 km. The earthquake, which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale, was one of the strongest in Central Europe. It followed the 1755 Lisbon earthquake by several months and was the culmination of a series of quakes in Germany that had lasted several years.

The 1756 earthquake caused damage to buildings in Cologne, Aachen, Jülich, and Bad Münstereifel. Shaking was felt in London, Magdeburg, and Strasbourg. The quake was assessed at VIII on the Mercalli intensity scale and caused two deaths and severe damage in Düren, as well as two deaths and one serious injury in Cologne. Portions of the city walls in Düren and Bad Münstereifel collapsed. Some of the hot springs in Aachen ran dry, while others increased in strength. A spring at Breinigerberg also ran dry. The water table fell in open tin and lead mines, and some became dry.

The strongest earthquake recorded near Bavaria was a 5.30-magnitude earthquake with a depth of 8.0 kilometres. It struck 4 km southwest of Jungingen, Germany, or 191 km (119 mi) southwest from the centre of Bavaria, 45 years ago.

Bavaria has relatively few earthquakes. However, it has had at least four quakes above magnitude 5 since 1970, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 10 to 15 years. On average, Bavaria experiences about 103 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher per year.

The most seismically active zone in Germany is the Lower Rhine Graben, where earthquakes of up to 6.4 on the Richter scale are theoretically possible

Germany experiences earthquakes several times a year, and these are relatively weak. The most seismically active zone in Germany is the Lower Rhine Graben, where earthquakes of up to 6.4 on the Richter scale are theoretically possible. This zone is part of the European Cenozoic Rift System, which is still tectonically active today. The Lower Rhine Graben is caused by the continuing effects of the Alpine orogeny as the African Plate continues to push northwards into the Eurasian Plate.

The Lower Rhine Graben experiences the strongest quakes in Germany and is the most seismically active zone in the country. Earthquakes in this region occur sporadically and at magnitudes that are relatively low by international standards. A strong earthquake (approximately 5.5 to 6.0 on the Richter scale) occurs in this region approximately every 200 years on average.

The last strong earthquake in the Lower Rhine Graben was in 1756, with its epicentre in Düren. This quake, which measured approximately 6.1 or 6.4 on the Richter scale, caused severe damage in several German cities, including Cologne and Aachen. More recently, in 1992, a 5.3 Mw quake with its epicentre in the Netherlands shook the border region between Germany and the Netherlands. This earthquake caused considerable damage to buildings and resulted in ground shifts of up to 2 metres.

Frequently asked questions