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Preliminary Magnitude 5.5 at a depth of 10 km
Epicenter near Pernik and Sofia
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SRC	Location	UTC Date/time	M	D	INFORMATION
USGS	Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 07:18 AM	4.8	37.4	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 07:18 AM	5.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 07:18 AM	5.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Molucca Sea	May 22 02:38 AM	5.1	69.4	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Molucca Sea	May 22 02:38 AM	5.1	49.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Molucca Sea	May 22 02:38 AM	4.8	40.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - I was just again in bed and shake alot for 5-10 seconds i get my clothes on now.. Sofia - Scary aftershock Skopje, Macedonia - Felt the aftershock too. It didn't last as much as the first one, but it was strong. Sofia - Uff, i was about sleeping and again a short but strong shake... Sofia center - 5:13 Another scary aftershock Sofia, Radisson Blu - I felt three consequent shakes - the middle one was the strongest and lasted for longest (was sleepy and did not check time) Marikostinovo, Sofiya, Bulgaria - It was awful!Everything is shaking! Generally I do not feel earthquakes when I sleep, but this time it was scary!
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - On 8th floor, felt it Prishtina - Felt the 4.8 aftershock, not as much as the main one but still noticable indeed. Pirot - I can't sleep. First one woke me up, and when i feel the second one now i don't know what to do, go to bad or out. Sofia - Big aftershock. Nearly as strong as the first. sofia - 4.40 in the morning still aftershocks
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.6	8.5	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia, BG - 2-3 shakes lasting approx. 30 secs. Sofia - Moderate shaking indicated Sofia Obleia - It was long about 10 seconds wake me off the bed and i jump. Sofia - Something very wierd happened Sofia - 2 moderate shakes followed by a weaker shake over 30 seconds Sofia - Lozenets - I jumped out of bed, i didn't know if i should go outside or not. It was very scary. Sofia, Bulgaria - 3 AM, playing ukulele, singing Tupac, building starts shaking pretty strongly. Sofia - It was a strong quake, about 10 seconds lasting with consecutive shakes, i thought it was 4.5 but here i see it is about 5.5. I was frihgtened ind jumped from the bed immediately. Sofia - on the top floors it's scary as all the china started getting out of the cabinets and falling on the floor and braking Sofia - I woke up very frustrated.. that was a strong earthquake Sofia - Sofia. Strong enough shake. 12th floor. No damages Sofia - 20-30 sec. No damages Sofia, Iavorov - The walls in my room, wich is the foremost room on the second story of the house were visibly going sideways alond with the same feeling in the floor... Scaaary! Sofia - After shake 3 mins later Prishtine, Kosovo - It is felt in Prishtina, capital of Kosovo, as well ... scary thing ... sofia - À l'hôtel à Sofia, 3h du matin, reveille par grandes secousses. Médias muet Sofia - Walls shook for around 20 secs, the force gradually increasing before easing off. light fixtures swinging as if they had been forcefully pushed by a human, definite lateral movement of our building was felt. Oddly, while one might expect all teh car alarms in the street to go off...none did. Interesting experience. Sofia - Woke me up, jumped out of bed, should we go outside? sofia - Sofia 5 floor Sofia, downtown - strong shaking, objects falling from the shelves Sofia - Слаба работа, ама наплаши съседите де. Sofia, Bulgaria - It lasted quite long, everything was shaking even on the first floor. The electricity was down for some time, some people were gathering outside. We're having aftershocks now, but they aren't strong. Curiously, it was almost at the same time as the one in Italy on the 20th, and also, of similar magnitude. Софиа - First shake was quite heavy, second one less but still scary Sofia, Hilton Hotel, 9th floor - After shake at 4:35 am... sofia - una terza scossa alle 4.33 ora locale Sofia, Iavorov - Same here, at least a 4.5, but very brief about 2 seconds tops. sofia - 2 scosse poi una piu forte che ha durato 20 sec. in tutto, alle 02.30, poi una lieve alle 04.20 circa Sofia - first and major at 2.59 in Sofia - 20 seconds later another after shock and then another about 30 minutes later. the first one moved the bed and nearly threw me off - I am on the ground floor in a very solid building - the bed moved back and I was in place - no damage here but most people left the building as soon as posslible. last aftershock I felt was 4.33 am local Sofia - Keeps shaking, it's scary. The first time the walls shook for around 20 secs, bottles, books, frames falling. It increased before easing off, there were two more shakes right away, and two more in an hour and half and in about two hours. Online advice says it's better to stay at home, next to an inner wall, a sturdy furniture or under a bed/table, away from mirrors, windows, kitchen and electricity devices. I am alone with the kid, it's scary. I feel a series of small aftershocks. Sofia - It woke me up. Sofia city center - I woke up from the violent shaking! Everyone at home is shocked. Can't go back to sleep. Afraid to go out yet. Sofia - A Sofia plusieurs tremblement dont les trois premiers très forts. Mon chien est encore agite ce qui me fait penser qu il y a encore des secousses à venir. Pendant plus d une heure aucune information n était disponible Sofia - I was in my car waiting for the green and my car has sport suspecions which are harder thank most of the cars out there but i could feel the car shaking like hell. Thanks God no one was injured or killed. Sofia - Girlfriend and me were doing it, and we noticed that we are taking the floor apart, and bending the walls. But then we noticed it was an earthquake!!! Sofia - The Bulgarian networks report for a demolished house in Rudartsi but no casualties except for some people from Sofia and Pernik suffering from high blood pressure from the stress. Sofia center - First experience. Felt it strong, woke up like someone where shaking my bed, while a subway train passed the floor below, noisy rumble. Sofia - Falling objects, interrupted power supply, initial shock 4.1, secondary - 5.8, over 20 aftershocks some as much as 4.3 on the rihter scale Sofia, Bulgaria - When i woke up the flat was like going forward and backward. I was very scared and i thinked it was a IX. Igot out of the flat quickly. I stayed in the car for about 3 hours. Sofia, Lulin - Very strong shaking. The wardrobe doors opens and woven door open, but no damages. Bulgaria - Yes, I felt it... I woke up and everything was jolting so strong Sofia - It was the most powerful earthquake I ever felt. Not overly scary but pretty powerful. Many people go down to the streets. I'm at my girlfriends place on the 5th floor and it felt intense, though noting fall down. My mother told me that on the 11th floor where we live, many books and other things have fall on the ground. Sofia, Bulgaria - Fell off the bed when it hit and part of wardrobe hit me. Sofia - Scary, as it was the n-th consecutive shake... Feels as it's not going to stop. No one knows when and if it's going to stop... Pazardzhik - We are living on the 12th floor, was 3:00 oclock when it happened. I felt myself like i was in an old elevator, it was scary. No demage, but the neighborhood was in panic. Sofia,Bulgaria - .. I couldn't sleep cause of these goddamn earthquakes .. woke me up 4 times on the fifth I couldn't even sleep anymore .. Was kind of annoying for me. Sofia, Bulgaria - My house is at less than 15 km from the epicentre of the earthquake and I felt all the three big earthquakes - the first at 3:02 - 5.8, the second at 4:10 - 4.7 and the third one at about 5 a.m. Everything was shaking very strongly, a lot of chimneys in my area felt, a lot of cracks appeared in the walls of the houses. Even one of the walls of my school, ehich is located in the centre of Sofia almost fell. Bulgaria, Sofia - I did not feel the first earthquakes, due to the fact that I have been indeed sleeping, but at around 02:30 am, when the shaking was the most violent. Me and my mother sprang out of bed, alarmed, the cat was hiding. When I looked out of the window, I could see that all of my neighbours have turned on their lights as well. Afterwards we went back to sleep. I almost doozed off half an hour later when I felt the next quake. Didn't get any sleep after all. Sofia, Bulgaria - It was pretty strong shake. Sofia,Bulgaria - I was in Iztok neibourghood. In 3:00 there was a very strong earthquake and I went on the door's frame. Sofia - It was horrible .We spent all night outdoors .Aftershiokes didn't stop all night long. Sofia, BG - Slept like a baby... didn't even knock over my ipad (in the upright position (on the 13th floor of a Sofia hotel) Sofia - My apartment is on the 5th floor and around 3am It start to shake a lot. It was really scary and I couldnt get off my bed. After this i felt another 2 strong earthquakes. The strongest was 5,9. Scary...still we have some aftershocks. Sofia - This was between moderate and strong shaking, very rapid one, but it felt like two waves.(around 3 am) The bad thing is that I had such a nightmare the previous night with bad scenario and earth collapsing ((4:44am) also I had very strong desire not to stay in my home anymore. The desire still stays and I am planing this night to go to a friends house instead to be in our 8 floors building.Greets!:) Sofia - Както си спях усетих, че всичко се клати... Първо ми се стори, че сънувам, но после разбрах, че е наистина... Докато се разбудя и стана то спря... Явно си беше стабилно след като успя да ме събуди, а аз спя кат пън :D След това се чу някакво бумтене отвън в посока Перник... След няколк� Sofia Bulgaria - It was indeed a strong quake and a scary experience, the strongest I've experienced in my lifetime. Sofia, Bulgaria - About 10min before the earthquake began I heard the sound of air coming out, then a rhythmic sound as if some small ball kept bouncing on the ground outside for about 10min, then it started with a very loud sound and really strong shaking for over a minute.. the house seemed elastic. Sofia, Lozenec - I've been woken up by strong shaking waves which lasted at least 15 to 20 sek. First I thought I was dreaming but soon I realised it is a strong earth quake. Immediately after the first hit there was an other strong shake. Prеtty scared by that point we left the building about 30 sec after the second wave. Pure luck that there is only material damage. I can be certain that this was the stronger earth quake I ever remember. Sofia - It was first that shakes on 2 sides simultaneosly Thessaloniki, Cent. Macedonia, Greece - My wife was awake, but the earthquake wake me up , too Sofia, Bulgaria - I met my dad in the hallway to the front door, said he loves me much, has feared as well as me ... very uncomfortable when something like that found you sleepy ! Sofia - No Comment! Strong shaking with loud noise! Sofia Center - IL ETAIT ENTRE 3H05 ET 3H10, D'UN COUP CA S'EST MIT A TREMBLER SERIEUSEMENT PENDANT 5 OU 6 SECONDES. LA TON INSTINCT DE SURVIE ENTRE JEU ET FORCEMENT, TU SAUTES DU LIT COMME UN RESSORT. JE ME SUIS RENDU COMPTE COMME NOUS SOMMES IMPUISSANTS FACE A LA FORCE DE LA NATURE. APRES CA, UNE PETITE PLUIE DOUCE A RECOUVERT LA MEME REGION PENDANT QUELQUES MINUTES, SUITE A QUOI UNE AUTRE SECOUSSE, LEGEREMENT MOINS IMPORTANTE A SUIVI, AINSI QU'UNE 3EME ENCORE PLUS LEGERE. LES IMMEUBLES A SOFIA SONT VIEUX ET Drama, Greece - We felt it, it was scary, the lamps on the ceiling kept moving for 4 minutes. Sofia - First we heard the thunder and then the whole building start shaking. Thank God it was e very new condominium and 4 floors only. On the table in the dining room there was a bottle of drinking water. It was my seismic tool - at first the water was splashing and then it become static. And again splashing. We with my wife are visiting Sofia from Florida, but we have pretty good experience with the big earthquake in Romania in 1977. So, we went out in the near park for about an hour. Then we went ba Sofia - The 3 strongest quakes felt really shaking. Especially the first one. Each time when we decided to go back to sleep it started again. But I have a strong house = no damages. Marikostinovo, Sofiya, Bulgaria - In Bulgaria it was 4.7! Was 5.8! Sofia - I actually slept through the whole thing and noticed nothing
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.6	9.4	MAP	I Felt It
Plovdiv City - Was a big Earthquake. I never felt like this before. Ardino, Bulgaria - I got scared Vratsa, Bulgaria - Light to moderate shaking. Woke me up. No damage. Kyustendil - Lasted about 10 or so seconds, had a much stronger aftershock 3 minutes later which lasted for a second. Pleven - We were at home and we felt it quiete strong for a time of ca.10 seconds. Situation at the moment is quite. Rousse,Bulgaria - I am on 9th floor and i was awaken by shake 3-4 seconds. Bulgaria - Хисаря беше много силно Kardzhali, Bulgaria - Long time shaking, felt it on 7th floor, felt like around 4. Scary stuff Vidin - That was a strong earthquake Bulgaria - I was on my chair. And my head get socked ;x edirne/Turkey - durmucak sandım la yeminle Plovdiv - wow Пловдив - Sorry for bringing down your server, but the bulgarian media were asleep like always. Vidin - Wake me up around 3.30. I felt it very clear Plovdiv - I was asleep, then wake up an run out a flat Mich - I felt for the second time BULGARIA - not cool Костинброд - It was interesting experience, but it was not so powerful. Im 15-20km form the center but not a single obgect in the room move (only shake). I think peoples are more scared then actualy threatened. Gotse Delchev, South West Bulgaria - Horrible sounds and big shaking woke me up, dogs barking, I could hear the house crack, but Thank you, God, no major damage. Everybidy woke up, I was shaking, my heart sank. Couldn't go back to sleep at all. Plovdiv - Local time was 3AM, woke up because of the shaking. Couldn't feel the after-shakes though. kustendil - Didn't wake up until 10am local time Serdika - i was worry about my girlfriend as she living in Serdika and she entered with her family into their car , Bloody hell i hate this earthquake Pirdop, Bulgaria - 3am lokal time - awakened by mattress moving horizontally, heard a noise od something falling down outside in the central square of town Plovdiv - I woke up because my bed was shaked and the whole hotel makes strange noises. BRESTOVITSA (ob.Plovdiv) - J'habite à Brestovitza ; 18 kms de Plovdiv, 135 km environ de Sofia.A 3 heures du matin J'ai été réveillé en sursaut , croyant que quelqu'un secouait mon lit, la porte de ma chambre a remué ; je me suis levé d'un bond affolé ,croyant que quelqu'un était chez moi ,et j'ai aussitôt pensé à une secousse sismique , j'ai entendu les chiens des voisins aboyer mais ça n'a duré que quelques secondes ; c'est tres stressant comme impression , je le saurait pour la prochaine fois, La Bulgarie Sofia city - Our cat crawled unusually into our bed 30 minutes before the eathquate stroke, obviously trying to wake us up. Then at 3:00 a.m. the apt building starteds shaking severely accompanied by a deep groaning sound. The It was just terrific.
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Nis, Serbia - It felted in southeastern Serbia also! Edirne Turkey - it shaked lightly for 10 seconds. SERBIA - I felt it in Serbia about 2:00 local time Mladost 4, Sofia, Bulgaria - it was about 3 am - I woke up , I live on the 10th floor, everything was shaking. Skopje - i heard from skopje Thessaloniki, Greece - 3rd earthquake in three weeks in this area (thessaloniki greece-this last one in bulgaria was felt by myself as were the other 2 over the last 2 weeks-a sign of things to come?? i hope not Serbia, Nish - It lasted about 10 sec I would say prishtin - qfar halucionacione :p Nis Serbia - Dosta dugo je ljuljalo (oko 15-20 sekundi) Thessaloniki, Greece - It was short, but it felt like it hit my brain! I always freak out from earthquakes! Hisarya - was strongly 3:00 Bucharest - Felt it in Bucharest. Not very strong but my furniture started making noises.. Skopje, MKD - My desk was shaking for 4 seconds. Not surprized to be honest. İstanbul Turkey - it was ok Blagoevgrad - Was a big Earthquake. I felt it in about 2.40-2.50 local time. Pristina - Light shaking in Pristina just 10 minutes ago. Turkey - I felt it in Istanbul. Kragujevac - Weak shaking Tirana - I heart it Kumanovo - Scary...don't like living on the top floor: Skopje - (It was a pretty nice shake in Skopje! Serbia, Vlasotince - I felt the shaking,my monitor fell off Skopje, Macedonia - Felt it in Skopje, around 02:05 AM local time. Lasted about 10-15 seconds. Bornova, Izmir - living on 8th floor and hardly noticed Bucharest, Romania - I felt it here in Bucharest, Romania Skopje, Macedonia - Felt in Skopje,Macedonia - Moderate shaking. Eastern Sofiya - Windows sounded weird and the entire building was shaking. Some of the more stable furniture was almost moving on the floor...slightly... very slightly. Byala,Bulgaria - It was felt around 3am, strong enough to wake up us. Lasting for aproximatelly 10 sec. Nis - I swung in bed xD thessaloniki - I felt it in Thessaloniki wake as off the bed!and the neighbors came out to the balcony. Prishtina, Kosovo - 5th floor, sitting on a chair, it was smooth for about 3/4sec Niš, Serbia - I'm on the 10th floor of the building in Nis Pristina - Felt it quite well here in Pristina, living high up in a highrise building. Thought it was here as things were moving around. THESSALONIKI, GREECE - I WAS GOING SOME WORK IN ON MY iMAC WHEN I START FEELING THE "SHAKE" IT LASTED CLOSE TO 11-12 SECONDS - I LIVE ON THE 9TH FLOOR SO IT WAS PRETTY SCARY .... NO NOICE JUST A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF THE BUILDING ... - TO BE HONEST I THOUGHT IT WILL GET WORST ... - THANK GOD IT STOPPED ... - I THINK THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN THE AREA ... AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN THE NEAR FUTURE ... - I WISH NOT - BUT WAY TO MANY QUAKES LATELY .... NO GOOD SIGN AT ALL ... Thessaloniki Greece - I was sleeping and waked up from shaking Thessaloniki, Greece - I felt it in Thessaloniki, 240Km away from the epicentre. I could not believe it happened so far away. Drama, greece - It was scary earthquake. 3:00 exactly, cuboard doors opened etc, no damage, people woke up though all over town. Thessaloniki, Greece - I felt it in Thessaloniki, 240Km away from the epicentre. I could not believe it happened so far away. Bucharest - Light shaking, about 10-15 seconds long, no damage at all Bucharest, Romania - On the six floor apartment, in my armchair... after about 10 seconds, I went into the kitchen - to make sure is a earthquake - and watched for another 30 seconds how water moves in a bowl, found in the sink... like me :) Macedonia - It was strog...i am alone home don't know what to do...it was a very good shake...hope it we wont get another like that!!! S Xanthi, Greece - Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Xanthi, Greece - (Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Xanthi, Greece - (Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Kumanovo - (Schrikken geblazen .. Heftig trillingen in het huis 3x zware schokken gevoelt .. Nu maar veilig gaan slapen ;) Drama, Greece - I woke around 3am to find the bed shaking quite alot - then realised it must be an earthquake. It lasted around 10 seconds. No damages - just heard alot of rattling from things on shelves. About 20 seconds after it stopped I think I felt the bed shake lightly a couple of times from the aftershock. This seems to be happening here / close to here every couple of years, as I have lived in Drama 8 years now and this is the 4th earthquake since I've been here. Xanthi - I live in Greece, Xanthi and I felt it very strongly, I imagine in Sofia it would be extremely stronger. I live in a 5 floor building and it was shaken alltogether. Sofia - Felt three earthquakes at 3.01 h, 4.31 h, 5.14 h. The first was very shaking, the furniture creaked a terrible noise. There was an earthquake, after a few seconds followed by second quake. Many people took to the street and stood up in the morning. Nis, Serbia - Strong shake at 0212 and again at 0217 in nis serbia. scary!!

Data sources courtesy : USGS – EMSC – GFZ – GEONET

Earthquakes occurred yesterday (UTC time), but today local time

Southern Xinjiang, China     May 21 21:38 PM     M 4.9     Depth 10.0 km

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SRC	Location	UTC Date/time	M	D	INFORMATION
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 09:53 AM	3.5	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 09:42 AM	3.0	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Puerto Rico Region	May 22 09:34 AM	3.0	8.5	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 09:31 AM	3.8	40.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Off Coast Of Costa Rica	May 22 09:30 AM	4.2	36.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Off The Coast Of Costa Rica	May 22 09:30 AM	4.2	36.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 09:01 AM	2.5	11.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 09:00 AM	2.5	20.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 08:56 AM	2.4	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Baja California, Mexico	May 22 08:49 AM	2.6	8.4	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Pyrenees	May 22 08:29 AM	3.1	8.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 08:23 AM	2.7	6.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Near The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 08:16 AM	4.4	38.3	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 08:16 AM	4.5	30.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 08:16 AM	4.5	31.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Eastern Turkey	May 22 08:07 AM	2.4	4.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 07:50 AM	2.4	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 07:46 AM	2.9	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 07:39 AM	2.7	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 07:35 AM	2.8	20.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 07:18 AM	4.8	37.4	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 07:18 AM	5.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan	May 22 07:18 AM	5.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 07:06 AM	2.9	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 06:27 AM	2.6	6.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 06:15 AM	2.6	1.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 06:11 AM	3.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 22 06:11 AM	4.2	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Central Turkey	May 22 06:10 AM	2.5	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 06:01 AM	2.5	3.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 04:42 AM	2.9	6.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Southern Greece	May 22 04:33 AM	2.4	9.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Central Turkey	May 22 04:30 AM	3.0	12.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 04:29 AM	3.2	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia Buxton - It's been the whole night: scary as it feels like it'll never stop shaking...
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 04:09 AM	3.3	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 04:03 AM	2.8	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 03:47 AM	2.4	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 03:23 AM	3.3	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 02:49 AM	2.4	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Molucca Sea	May 22 02:38 AM	5.1	69.4	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Molucca Sea	May 22 02:38 AM	5.1	49.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Molucca Sea	May 22 02:38 AM	4.8	40.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 02:36 AM	2.9	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 02:13 AM	4.3	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia business park - Felt it clearly at 3 am local time, and still feel the ground moving a bit every now and then (its now almost 6 am local time)
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 02:13 AM	4.3	9.3	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 02:13 AM	4.2	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 02:11 AM	3.0	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 02:01 AM	2.9	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 01:55 AM	3.2	15.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 01:49 AM	2.4	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - I was just again in bed and shake alot for 5-10 seconds i get my clothes on now.. Sofia - Scary aftershock Skopje, Macedonia - Felt the aftershock too. It didn't last as much as the first one, but it was strong. Sofia - Uff, i was about sleeping and again a short but strong shake... Sofia center - 5:13 Another scary aftershock Sofia, Radisson Blu - I felt three consequent shakes - the middle one was the strongest and lasted for longest (was sleepy and did not check time) Marikostinovo, Sofiya, Bulgaria - It was awful!Everything is shaking! Generally I do not feel earthquakes when I sleep, but this time it was scary!
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - On 8th floor, felt it Prishtina - Felt the 4.8 aftershock, not as much as the main one but still noticable indeed. Pirot - I can't sleep. First one woke me up, and when i feel the second one now i don't know what to do, go to bad or out. Sofia - Big aftershock. Nearly as strong as the first. sofia - 4.40 in the morning still aftershocks
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.6	8.5	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:56 AM	3.0	13.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - I m on the first floor of my hotel and felt one moderate shock which lasted about 10-15 sec. A second lighter moderate shock immediatly after it. Till 4am local time very small aftershocks. Looks like its over now Sofia center - Scary aftershock around 4:31 AM local. Humming noise Sofia - Aftershake in Sofia Bitosha Blvd cca at 4:30 am
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 00:54 AM	3.0	7.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:49 AM	2.8	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:49 AM	2.9	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 00:46 AM	2.4	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 00:43 AM	3.9	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:43 AM	3.8	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 00:34 AM	2.4	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Western Turkey	May 22 00:28 AM	3.0	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 22 00:27 AM	2.4	6.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:23 AM	3.3	1.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:15 AM	2.7	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Germany	May 22 00:08 AM	2.4	3.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia, BG - 2-3 shakes lasting approx. 30 secs. Sofia - Moderate shaking indicated Sofia Obleia - It was long about 10 seconds wake me off the bed and i jump. Sofia - Something very wierd happened Sofia - 2 moderate shakes followed by a weaker shake over 30 seconds Sofia - Lozenets - I jumped out of bed, i didn't know if i should go outside or not. It was very scary. Sofia, Bulgaria - 3 AM, playing ukulele, singing Tupac, building starts shaking pretty strongly. Sofia - It was a strong quake, about 10 seconds lasting with consecutive shakes, i thought it was 4.5 but here i see it is about 5.5. I was frihgtened ind jumped from the bed immediately. Sofia - on the top floors it's scary as all the china started getting out of the cabinets and falling on the floor and braking Sofia - I woke up very frustrated.. that was a strong earthquake Sofia - Sofia. Strong enough shake. 12th floor. No damages Sofia - 20-30 sec. No damages Sofia, Iavorov - The walls in my room, wich is the foremost room on the second story of the house were visibly going sideways alond with the same feeling in the floor... Scaaary! Sofia - After shake 3 mins later Prishtine, Kosovo - It is felt in Prishtina, capital of Kosovo, as well ... scary thing ... sofia - À l'hôtel à Sofia, 3h du matin, reveille par grandes secousses. Médias muet Sofia - Walls shook for around 20 secs, the force gradually increasing before easing off. light fixtures swinging as if they had been forcefully pushed by a human, definite lateral movement of our building was felt. Oddly, while one might expect all teh car alarms in the street to go off...none did. Interesting experience. Sofia - Woke me up, jumped out of bed, should we go outside? sofia - Sofia 5 floor Sofia, downtown - strong shaking, objects falling from the shelves Sofia - Слаба работа, ама наплаши съседите де. Sofia, Bulgaria - It lasted quite long, everything was shaking even on the first floor. The electricity was down for some time, some people were gathering outside. We're having aftershocks now, but they aren't strong. Curiously, it was almost at the same time as the one in Italy on the 20th, and also, of similar magnitude. Софиа - First shake was quite heavy, second one less but still scary Sofia, Hilton Hotel, 9th floor - After shake at 4:35 am... sofia - una terza scossa alle 4.33 ora locale Sofia, Iavorov - Same here, at least a 4.5, but very brief about 2 seconds tops. sofia - 2 scosse poi una piu forte che ha durato 20 sec. in tutto, alle 02.30, poi una lieve alle 04.20 circa Sofia - first and major at 2.59 in Sofia - 20 seconds later another after shock and then another about 30 minutes later. the first one moved the bed and nearly threw me off - I am on the ground floor in a very solid building - the bed moved back and I was in place - no damage here but most people left the building as soon as posslible. last aftershock I felt was 4.33 am local Sofia - Keeps shaking, it's scary. The first time the walls shook for around 20 secs, bottles, books, frames falling. It increased before easing off, there were two more shakes right away, and two more in an hour and half and in about two hours. Online advice says it's better to stay at home, next to an inner wall, a sturdy furniture or under a bed/table, away from mirrors, windows, kitchen and electricity devices. I am alone with the kid, it's scary. I feel a series of small aftershocks. Sofia - It woke me up. Sofia city center - I woke up from the violent shaking! Everyone at home is shocked. Can't go back to sleep. Afraid to go out yet. Sofia - A Sofia plusieurs tremblement dont les trois premiers très forts. Mon chien est encore agite ce qui me fait penser qu il y a encore des secousses à venir. Pendant plus d une heure aucune information n était disponible Sofia - I was in my car waiting for the green and my car has sport suspecions which are harder thank most of the cars out there but i could feel the car shaking like hell. Thanks God no one was injured or killed. Sofia - Girlfriend and me were doing it, and we noticed that we are taking the floor apart, and bending the walls. But then we noticed it was an earthquake!!! Sofia - The Bulgarian networks report for a demolished house in Rudartsi but no casualties except for some people from Sofia and Pernik suffering from high blood pressure from the stress. Sofia center - First experience. Felt it strong, woke up like someone where shaking my bed, while a subway train passed the floor below, noisy rumble. Sofia - Falling objects, interrupted power supply, initial shock 4.1, secondary - 5.8, over 20 aftershocks some as much as 4.3 on the rihter scale Sofia, Bulgaria - When i woke up the flat was like going forward and backward. I was very scared and i thinked it was a IX. Igot out of the flat quickly. I stayed in the car for about 3 hours. Sofia, Lulin - Very strong shaking. The wardrobe doors opens and woven door open, but no damages. Bulgaria - Yes, I felt it... I woke up and everything was jolting so strong Sofia - It was the most powerful earthquake I ever felt. Not overly scary but pretty powerful. Many people go down to the streets. I'm at my girlfriends place on the 5th floor and it felt intense, though noting fall down. My mother told me that on the 11th floor where we live, many books and other things have fall on the ground. Sofia, Bulgaria - Fell off the bed when it hit and part of wardrobe hit me. Sofia - Scary, as it was the n-th consecutive shake... Feels as it's not going to stop. No one knows when and if it's going to stop... Pazardzhik - We are living on the 12th floor, was 3:00 oclock when it happened. I felt myself like i was in an old elevator, it was scary. No demage, but the neighborhood was in panic. Sofia,Bulgaria - .. I couldn't sleep cause of these goddamn earthquakes .. woke me up 4 times on the fifth I couldn't even sleep anymore .. Was kind of annoying for me. Sofia, Bulgaria - My house is at less than 15 km from the epicentre of the earthquake and I felt all the three big earthquakes - the first at 3:02 - 5.8, the second at 4:10 - 4.7 and the third one at about 5 a.m. Everything was shaking very strongly, a lot of chimneys in my area felt, a lot of cracks appeared in the walls of the houses. Even one of the walls of my school, ehich is located in the centre of Sofia almost fell. Bulgaria, Sofia - I did not feel the first earthquakes, due to the fact that I have been indeed sleeping, but at around 02:30 am, when the shaking was the most violent. Me and my mother sprang out of bed, alarmed, the cat was hiding. When I looked out of the window, I could see that all of my neighbours have turned on their lights as well. Afterwards we went back to sleep. I almost doozed off half an hour later when I felt the next quake. Didn't get any sleep after all. Sofia, Bulgaria - It was pretty strong shake. Sofia,Bulgaria - I was in Iztok neibourghood. In 3:00 there was a very strong earthquake and I went on the door's frame. Sofia - It was horrible .We spent all night outdoors .Aftershiokes didn't stop all night long. Sofia, BG - Slept like a baby... didn't even knock over my ipad (in the upright position (on the 13th floor of a Sofia hotel) Sofia - My apartment is on the 5th floor and around 3am It start to shake a lot. It was really scary and I couldnt get off my bed. After this i felt another 2 strong earthquakes. The strongest was 5,9. Scary...still we have some aftershocks. Sofia - This was between moderate and strong shaking, very rapid one, but it felt like two waves.(around 3 am) The bad thing is that I had such a nightmare the previous night with bad scenario and earth collapsing ((4:44am) also I had very strong desire not to stay in my home anymore. The desire still stays and I am planing this night to go to a friends house instead to be in our 8 floors building.Greets!:) Sofia - Както си спях усетих, че всичко се клати... Първо ми се стори, че сънувам, но после разбрах, че е наистина... Докато се разбудя и стана то спря... Явно си беше стабилно след като успя да ме събуди, а аз спя кат пън :D След това се чу някакво бумтене отвън в посока Перник... След няколк� Sofia Bulgaria - It was indeed a strong quake and a scary experience, the strongest I've experienced in my lifetime. Sofia, Bulgaria - About 10min before the earthquake began I heard the sound of air coming out, then a rhythmic sound as if some small ball kept bouncing on the ground outside for about 10min, then it started with a very loud sound and really strong shaking for over a minute.. the house seemed elastic. Sofia, Lozenec - I've been woken up by strong shaking waves which lasted at least 15 to 20 sek. First I thought I was dreaming but soon I realised it is a strong earth quake. Immediately after the first hit there was an other strong shake. Prеtty scared by that point we left the building about 30 sec after the second wave. Pure luck that there is only material damage. I can be certain that this was the stronger earth quake I ever remember. Sofia - It was first that shakes on 2 sides simultaneosly Thessaloniki, Cent. Macedonia, Greece - My wife was awake, but the earthquake wake me up , too Sofia, Bulgaria - I met my dad in the hallway to the front door, said he loves me much, has feared as well as me ... very uncomfortable when something like that found you sleepy ! Sofia - No Comment! Strong shaking with loud noise! Sofia Center - IL ETAIT ENTRE 3H05 ET 3H10, D'UN COUP CA S'EST MIT A TREMBLER SERIEUSEMENT PENDANT 5 OU 6 SECONDES. LA TON INSTINCT DE SURVIE ENTRE JEU ET FORCEMENT, TU SAUTES DU LIT COMME UN RESSORT. JE ME SUIS RENDU COMPTE COMME NOUS SOMMES IMPUISSANTS FACE A LA FORCE DE LA NATURE. APRES CA, UNE PETITE PLUIE DOUCE A RECOUVERT LA MEME REGION PENDANT QUELQUES MINUTES, SUITE A QUOI UNE AUTRE SECOUSSE, LEGEREMENT MOINS IMPORTANTE A SUIVI, AINSI QU'UNE 3EME ENCORE PLUS LEGERE. LES IMMEUBLES A SOFIA SONT VIEUX ET Drama, Greece - We felt it, it was scary, the lamps on the ceiling kept moving for 4 minutes. Sofia - First we heard the thunder and then the whole building start shaking. Thank God it was e very new condominium and 4 floors only. On the table in the dining room there was a bottle of drinking water. It was my seismic tool - at first the water was splashing and then it become static. And again splashing. We with my wife are visiting Sofia from Florida, but we have pretty good experience with the big earthquake in Romania in 1977. So, we went out in the near park for about an hour. Then we went ba Sofia - The 3 strongest quakes felt really shaking. Especially the first one. Each time when we decided to go back to sleep it started again. But I have a strong house = no damages. Marikostinovo, Sofiya, Bulgaria - In Bulgaria it was 4.7! Was 5.8! Sofia - I actually slept through the whole thing and noticed nothing
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.6	9.4	MAP	I Felt It
Plovdiv City - Was a big Earthquake. I never felt like this before. Ardino, Bulgaria - I got scared Vratsa, Bulgaria - Light to moderate shaking. Woke me up. No damage. Kyustendil - Lasted about 10 or so seconds, had a much stronger aftershock 3 minutes later which lasted for a second. Pleven - We were at home and we felt it quiete strong for a time of ca.10 seconds. Situation at the moment is quite. Rousse,Bulgaria - I am on 9th floor and i was awaken by shake 3-4 seconds. Bulgaria - Хисаря беше много силно Kardzhali, Bulgaria - Long time shaking, felt it on 7th floor, felt like around 4. Scary stuff Vidin - That was a strong earthquake Bulgaria - I was on my chair. And my head get socked ;x edirne/Turkey - durmucak sandım la yeminle Plovdiv - wow Пловдив - Sorry for bringing down your server, but the bulgarian media were asleep like always. Vidin - Wake me up around 3.30. I felt it very clear Plovdiv - I was asleep, then wake up an run out a flat Mich - I felt for the second time BULGARIA - not cool Костинброд - It was interesting experience, but it was not so powerful. Im 15-20km form the center but not a single obgect in the room move (only shake). I think peoples are more scared then actualy threatened. Gotse Delchev, South West Bulgaria - Horrible sounds and big shaking woke me up, dogs barking, I could hear the house crack, but Thank you, God, no major damage. Everybidy woke up, I was shaking, my heart sank. Couldn't go back to sleep at all. Plovdiv - Local time was 3AM, woke up because of the shaking. Couldn't feel the after-shakes though. kustendil - Didn't wake up until 10am local time Serdika - i was worry about my girlfriend as she living in Serdika and she entered with her family into their car , Bloody hell i hate this earthquake Pirdop, Bulgaria - 3am lokal time - awakened by mattress moving horizontally, heard a noise od something falling down outside in the central square of town Plovdiv - I woke up because my bed was shaked and the whole hotel makes strange noises. BRESTOVITSA (ob.Plovdiv) - J'habite à Brestovitza ; 18 kms de Plovdiv, 135 km environ de Sofia.A 3 heures du matin J'ai été réveillé en sursaut , croyant que quelqu'un secouait mon lit, la porte de ma chambre a remué ; je me suis levé d'un bond affolé ,croyant que quelqu'un était chez moi ,et j'ai aussitôt pensé à une secousse sismique , j'ai entendu les chiens des voisins aboyer mais ça n'a duré que quelques secondes ; c'est tres stressant comme impression , je le saurait pour la prochaine fois, La Bulgarie Sofia city - Our cat crawled unusually into our bed 30 minutes before the eathquate stroke, obviously trying to wake us up. Then at 3:00 a.m. the apt building starteds shaking severely accompanied by a deep groaning sound. The It was just terrific.
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Nis, Serbia - It felted in southeastern Serbia also! Edirne Turkey - it shaked lightly for 10 seconds. SERBIA - I felt it in Serbia about 2:00 local time Mladost 4, Sofia, Bulgaria - it was about 3 am - I woke up , I live on the 10th floor, everything was shaking. Skopje - i heard from skopje Thessaloniki, Greece - 3rd earthquake in three weeks in this area (thessaloniki greece-this last one in bulgaria was felt by myself as were the other 2 over the last 2 weeks-a sign of things to come?? i hope not Serbia, Nish - It lasted about 10 sec I would say prishtin - qfar halucionacione :p Nis Serbia - Dosta dugo je ljuljalo (oko 15-20 sekundi) Thessaloniki, Greece - It was short, but it felt like it hit my brain! I always freak out from earthquakes! Hisarya - was strongly 3:00 Bucharest - Felt it in Bucharest. Not very strong but my furniture started making noises.. Skopje, MKD - My desk was shaking for 4 seconds. Not surprized to be honest. İstanbul Turkey - it was ok Blagoevgrad - Was a big Earthquake. I felt it in about 2.40-2.50 local time. Pristina - Light shaking in Pristina just 10 minutes ago. Turkey - I felt it in Istanbul. Kragujevac - Weak shaking Tirana - I heart it Kumanovo - Scary...don't like living on the top floor: Skopje - (It was a pretty nice shake in Skopje! Serbia, Vlasotince - I felt the shaking,my monitor fell off Skopje, Macedonia - Felt it in Skopje, around 02:05 AM local time. Lasted about 10-15 seconds. Bornova, Izmir - living on 8th floor and hardly noticed Bucharest, Romania - I felt it here in Bucharest, Romania Skopje, Macedonia - Felt in Skopje,Macedonia - Moderate shaking. Eastern Sofiya - Windows sounded weird and the entire building was shaking. Some of the more stable furniture was almost moving on the floor...slightly... very slightly. Byala,Bulgaria - It was felt around 3am, strong enough to wake up us. Lasting for aproximatelly 10 sec. Nis - I swung in bed xD thessaloniki - I felt it in Thessaloniki wake as off the bed!and the neighbors came out to the balcony. Prishtina, Kosovo - 5th floor, sitting on a chair, it was smooth for about 3/4sec Niš, Serbia - I'm on the 10th floor of the building in Nis Pristina - Felt it quite well here in Pristina, living high up in a highrise building. Thought it was here as things were moving around. THESSALONIKI, GREECE - I WAS GOING SOME WORK IN ON MY iMAC WHEN I START FEELING THE "SHAKE" IT LASTED CLOSE TO 11-12 SECONDS - I LIVE ON THE 9TH FLOOR SO IT WAS PRETTY SCARY .... NO NOICE JUST A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF THE BUILDING ... - TO BE HONEST I THOUGHT IT WILL GET WORST ... - THANK GOD IT STOPPED ... - I THINK THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN THE AREA ... AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN THE NEAR FUTURE ... - I WISH NOT - BUT WAY TO MANY QUAKES LATELY .... NO GOOD SIGN AT ALL ... Thessaloniki Greece - I was sleeping and waked up from shaking Thessaloniki, Greece - I felt it in Thessaloniki, 240Km away from the epicentre. I could not believe it happened so far away. Drama, greece - It was scary earthquake. 3:00 exactly, cuboard doors opened etc, no damage, people woke up though all over town. Thessaloniki, Greece - I felt it in Thessaloniki, 240Km away from the epicentre. I could not believe it happened so far away. Bucharest - Light shaking, about 10-15 seconds long, no damage at all Bucharest, Romania - On the six floor apartment, in my armchair... after about 10 seconds, I went into the kitchen - to make sure is a earthquake - and watched for another 30 seconds how water moves in a bowl, found in the sink... like me :) Macedonia - It was strog...i am alone home don't know what to do...it was a very good shake...hope it we wont get another like that!!! S Xanthi, Greece - Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Xanthi, Greece - (Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Xanthi, Greece - (Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Kumanovo - (Schrikken geblazen .. Heftig trillingen in het huis 3x zware schokken gevoelt .. Nu maar veilig gaan slapen ;) Drama, Greece - I woke around 3am to find the bed shaking quite alot - then realised it must be an earthquake. It lasted around 10 seconds. No damages - just heard alot of rattling from things on shelves. About 20 seconds after it stopped I think I felt the bed shake lightly a couple of times from the aftershock. This seems to be happening here / close to here every couple of years, as I have lived in Drama 8 years now and this is the 4th earthquake since I've been here. Xanthi - I live in Greece, Xanthi and I felt it very strongly, I imagine in Sofia it would be extremely stronger. I live in a 5 floor building and it was shaken alltogether. Sofia - Felt three earthquakes at 3.01 h, 4.31 h, 5.14 h. The first was very shaking, the furniture creaked a terrible noise. There was an earthquake, after a few seconds followed by second quake. Many people took to the street and stood up in the morning. Nis, Serbia - Strong shake at 0212 and again at 0217 in nis serbia. scary!!

Data sources courtesy : USGS – EMSC – GFZ – GEONET

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I have felt it – Ik heb het gevoeld – Το έκανα αισθάνεται – Yo lo he sentido – 我的确感到了 – 私はそれを感じていました- Ich habe es gefühlt – Bunu hissediyorum yaptı – لم أشعر أنه

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Update 08:53 UTC : Deputy Prime Minister, Power, Police
- The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister has stated that there are no casualties, no serious injuries and no significant national infrastructure damage
- The Deputy Prime Minister said that the situation is totally under control
- Power cuts were experienced in Radomir, a town West of Pernik, but the power has been restored now
- Police patrols have been dispatched all over the country to avoid looting while people where out of their houses out of fear for aftershocks

Summary 07:00 UTC :
- 30 people were slightly injured and all have been released from hospital
- 1 house was destroyed in Rudartski. Only slight damage occurred to other buildings like fallen plaster
- Damage assessments are currently been undertaken.
- This was about as damaging as the 1965 earthquake.

Update 06:36 UTC : From the CATDAT Damaging Earthquakes Database, the following major damaging earthquakes have occurred close to this epicenter.

1555, 1641, 1818, 1848 – major damage near this epicentre.
1858 – multiple earthquakes caused major damage in Sofia with 4 deaths.
1904 – multiple large earthquakes in Gabrovo region.
Late 1938 – Damaged houses in Sofia, and overturned chimneys. From a mild earthquake.
According to Associated Press reports, an earthquake caused damage to several houses in Transylvania on August 30 1941
6 April 1942 – A Rome broadcast heard in London, England, reported that a temblor caused damage at the Bulgarian town of Tutrakan. One hundred houses were said to have been destroyed, but there was no report of casualties. BSSA:
28 January 1965 – Bulgaria; slight damage (intensity VII) in the towns of Rodomir and Pernik and in the villages of Kladnitsa and Roudartzi in the mountainous massif about 30 km south-west of Sofia (Grigorova and Rijikova, 1965)
Late 1977 saw damage in the region of Velingrad from a M5.5 earthquake.

Update 06:19 UTC :

30 people have required medical treatment however, no other casualties have been seen.  The children’s ward in Pernik hospital was evacuated.

Victims who came to the hospital are numbered around 30, most of which were bruised and lacerated by fallen plaster or objects. These were not serious injuries.

The Pernik fault on which the earthquake occurred has not been activated for 100 years.

Update 03:19 UTC :
One of our Sofia readers reports : The Bulgarian networks report for a demolished house in Rudartsi but no casualties except for some people from Sofia and Pernik suffering from high blood pressure from the stress.

Update 03:08 UTC :
- The last local reports we could see was that 1 house was collapsed to the west of Pernik.  A lot of people have been treated for a nervous breakdown, but we have no word on injuries based on the shaking
- A dam in the earthquake area has not been damaged
- We can advise our Bulgarian friends to read the following good article on how to behave during and after an earthquake
- About 30 residents of the city required medical treatment, mainly because of problems with blood pressure after suffering a stress.

Update 02:48 UTC :
- We expect better reports from the 15 km radius of the epicenter in about an hour when daylight will disclose more details.  So far we haven’t heard anything from the villages to the west of Pernik and information out of Pernik, a city with 81,000 inhabitants, is extremely limited.

Update 02:24 UTC :
- Another strong aftershock just occurred in the earthquake zone

An Earthquake-Report.com reader is commenting : Keeps shaking, it\’s scary. The first time the walls shook for around 20 secs, bottles, books, frames falling. It increased before easing off, there were two more shakes right away, and two more in an hour and half and in about two hours. Online advice says it\’s better to stay at home, next to an inner wall, a sturdy furniture or under a bed/table, away from mirrors, windows, kitchen and electricity devices. I am alone with the kid, it\’s scary. I feel a series of  small aftershocks.

Update 02:24 UTC :
- Entire walls are reported to have collapsed in the Western city of Pernik as a result of the earthquake.
- EMSC has reported a lot of aftershocks so far. 2 of them measured 4.7 and 4.6. Not dangerous for normal constructions but they can make people crazy after an earthquake.
- The Sofia area is not the most dangerous in Bulgaria but nevertheless has been labeled as an area with a potential Magnitude of 7.

Landscape near Pernik - Image courtesy Dennyl

Update 02:05 UTC :
- The city of Pernik has a lot of apartment buildings
- The confirmed damage so far is broken windows, fallen chimneys, cracks in walls etc.  We are now 2 hours after the mainshock and this is good news. If the damage should have been widespread, the news must certainly have arrived already in Sofia. The Magnitude is dangerous but not as dangerous as initially reported.
- It will take a few hours more until daylight before a better picture can be made from the damage

Update 01:58 UTC :
- Our I Have felt It system can hardly follow with the many experienced we receive from within Balgaria and from the neighboring countries
- Aftershocks in the -5 range are continuing to strike in the epicenter area. Unless houses became unstable, we do expect no serious damage from these aftershocks.
- Our attention goes to the direct epicenter area to the North West of Pernik. The situation is still very chaotic at the moment.
- Local press in Pernil is saying that the epicenter is in between Pernik and Rudartsi. Other people are claiming the epicenter to be in Radomir.

Update 01:41 UTC :
- EMSC has located the earthquake’s epicenter almost below Meshtitsa. The mayor of Pernik was merely concerned about Batanovtsi from were she has received damage reports.
- A bad sign for eventual damage is the merely soft soil in this area. A lot of farming fields means that the wave propagation can be powerful. More or less the equivalent of the Italian earthquake.

Update 01:38 UTC :
- USGS has decreased his Magnitude from 5.8 to 5.6, which is a big difference in energy. Depth remains unchanged.
- EMSC maintains the M5.7 Magnitude at a depth of 10 km.
- So far we haven’t heard from Pernil, which is a bif city very close to the epicenter
- A lot of people are reporting cracks in the walls
- The Mayor of Pernik Rositsa Yanakieva have gone to town Batanovtsi, which is located near Pernik, since there is evidence that has damaged buildings.

Update 01:24 UTC :
- As could be expected, a lot of aftershocks are hampering the area
- There is information about damaged walls, chimneys, plaster, broken windows, etc. Based on our experience, this is a bad sign and will lead to a lot more damage.
- Earthquake-Report.com also fears for the strength of a lot of houses and buildings. They are mostly build out of brick , which if it not reinforced for earthquakes, collapses easily.

Update 01:17 UTC :
- There is no immediate evidence that the power would have been gone.
- The earthquake was followed almost immediately by two aftershocks of almost equal strength.
- The civil protection and fire brigade departments across Bulgaria have been alerted about minor damages to walls, ceilings, and windows. ER : based on our experience, this is only the beginning. We expect more damage as the time passes.

Update 01:12 UTC :  Please read the many I Have Felt reports below.

Update 01:11 UTC :  The earthquake was well felt in the neighboring countries from Macedonia, Serbia and Greece.

Update 01:10 UTC :   “It was terrible, everything shook. All cabinets – open, dropped my toothpaste in the bathroom,” complained a resident of the metropolitan district “Ilinden”.

Update 01:10 UTC :  The first earthquake measured M5.8. The depth is still unsure. The shaking went on for about 10 seconds. The mainshock was followed by a M4.7 aftershock.

Update 01:03 UTC :  WAPMERR, the theoretical Damage estimate engine expects from 200 to 1500 injured people and from 0 to 200 fatalities. These numbers are often exaggerated, but are based on historic earthquakes and preliminary earthquak date

Update 00:58 UTC :  We should be LIVE again. the server had to be rebooted as it was brought down by too many visitors.

Shaking map courtesy USGS

Update 00:46 UTC :  The people from Sofia, Pernik and all the surrounding towns are gathering in the streets out of fear for aftershocks.
At Earthquake-Report.com we believe that damage will be inevitable.

Update 00:46 UTC : Our Experience Database is unfortunately down, we are sorry for this. Cause : too high demand.

Update 00:45 UTC : Following the theoretical calculations from USGS,  95,000 people will have felt a very strong shaking (MMI VII).  MMI VII means for earthquake-report.com a potential danger for damage.
932,000 people will have felt a strong shaking.

Update 00:37 UTC : The earthquake happened 10km from Pernik. The nearest populated places are: Studena (18km), Radomir (14km), Rudartsi (18km), Tsurkva (14km), Rayko Daskalovo (17km). The closest civilian airport is Sofia / Vrazhdebna (32km).

Update 00:32 UTC : Our site has currently a lot of problems to cope with demand

Update 00:27 UTC : Our readers are reporting a moderate to strong shaking in Sofia

Update 00:24 UTC : USGS is reporting a preliminary Magnitude of 5.8 at a depth of 9.1 km.
Earthquake-Report.com considers this earthquake as Very Dangerous
The earthquake struck at only 23 km from Sofia

We are currently gathering information about this earthquake.
The epicenter should be located very close to Pernik.

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.6 ?
UTC Time :   00:00
Local time at epicenter :
Depth (Hypocenter) : 10 km ?
Geo-location(s) :
23 km (14 miles) W (274°) from SOFIA, Bulgaria
116 km (72 miles) SE (128°) from Nis, Yugoslavia

Links to important maps
USGS Did You Feel It Map
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area
Historic earthquakes map
Seismic hazard map
Shaking map
Scientific parameters
Human impact map

Click here for examples of our “earthquake notifications (button below)”

SRC	Location	UTC Date/time	M	D	INFORMATION
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 04:29 AM	3.2	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia Buxton - It's been the whole night: scary as it feels like it'll never stop shaking...
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 04:09 AM	3.3	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 03:23 AM	3.3	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 02:13 AM	4.3	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia business park - Felt it clearly at 3 am local time, and still feel the ground moving a bit every now and then (its now almost 6 am local time)
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 02:13 AM	4.3	9.3	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 02:13 AM	4.2	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 02:11 AM	3.0	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - I was just again in bed and shake alot for 5-10 seconds i get my clothes on now.. Sofia - Scary aftershock Skopje, Macedonia - Felt the aftershock too. It didn't last as much as the first one, but it was strong. Sofia - Uff, i was about sleeping and again a short but strong shake... Sofia center - 5:13 Another scary aftershock Sofia, Radisson Blu - I felt three consequent shakes - the middle one was the strongest and lasted for longest (was sleepy and did not check time) Marikostinovo, Sofiya, Bulgaria - It was awful!Everything is shaking! Generally I do not feel earthquakes when I sleep, but this time it was scary!
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - On 8th floor, felt it Prishtina - Felt the 4.8 aftershock, not as much as the main one but still noticable indeed. Pirot - I can't sleep. First one woke me up, and when i feel the second one now i don't know what to do, go to bad or out. Sofia - Big aftershock. Nearly as strong as the first. sofia - 4.40 in the morning still aftershocks
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 01:30 AM	4.6	8.5	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:56 AM	3.0	13.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia - I m on the first floor of my hotel and felt one moderate shock which lasted about 10-15 sec. A second lighter moderate shock immediatly after it. Till 4am local time very small aftershocks. Looks like its over now Sofia center - Scary aftershock around 4:31 AM local. Humming noise Sofia - Aftershake in Sofia Bitosha Blvd cca at 4:30 am
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:49 AM	2.8	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:49 AM	2.9	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 00:43 AM	3.9	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:43 AM	3.8	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:23 AM	3.3	1.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:15 AM	2.7	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Sofia, BG - 2-3 shakes lasting approx. 30 secs. Sofia - Moderate shaking indicated Sofia Obleia - It was long about 10 seconds wake me off the bed and i jump. Sofia - Something very wierd happened Sofia - 2 moderate shakes followed by a weaker shake over 30 seconds Sofia - Lozenets - I jumped out of bed, i didn't know if i should go outside or not. It was very scary. Sofia, Bulgaria - 3 AM, playing ukulele, singing Tupac, building starts shaking pretty strongly. Sofia - It was a strong quake, about 10 seconds lasting with consecutive shakes, i thought it was 4.5 but here i see it is about 5.5. I was frihgtened ind jumped from the bed immediately. Sofia - on the top floors it's scary as all the china started getting out of the cabinets and falling on the floor and braking Sofia - I woke up very frustrated.. that was a strong earthquake Sofia - Sofia. Strong enough shake. 12th floor. No damages Sofia - 20-30 sec. No damages Sofia, Iavorov - The walls in my room, wich is the foremost room on the second story of the house were visibly going sideways alond with the same feeling in the floor... Scaaary! Sofia - After shake 3 mins later Prishtine, Kosovo - It is felt in Prishtina, capital of Kosovo, as well ... scary thing ... sofia - À l'hôtel à Sofia, 3h du matin, reveille par grandes secousses. Médias muet Sofia - Walls shook for around 20 secs, the force gradually increasing before easing off. light fixtures swinging as if they had been forcefully pushed by a human, definite lateral movement of our building was felt. Oddly, while one might expect all teh car alarms in the street to go off...none did. Interesting experience. Sofia - Woke me up, jumped out of bed, should we go outside? sofia - Sofia 5 floor Sofia, downtown - strong shaking, objects falling from the shelves Sofia - Слаба работа, ама наплаши съседите де. Sofia, Bulgaria - It lasted quite long, everything was shaking even on the first floor. The electricity was down for some time, some people were gathering outside. We're having aftershocks now, but they aren't strong. Curiously, it was almost at the same time as the one in Italy on the 20th, and also, of similar magnitude. Софиа - First shake was quite heavy, second one less but still scary Sofia, Hilton Hotel, 9th floor - After shake at 4:35 am... sofia - una terza scossa alle 4.33 ora locale Sofia, Iavorov - Same here, at least a 4.5, but very brief about 2 seconds tops. sofia - 2 scosse poi una piu forte che ha durato 20 sec. in tutto, alle 02.30, poi una lieve alle 04.20 circa Sofia - first and major at 2.59 in Sofia - 20 seconds later another after shock and then another about 30 minutes later. the first one moved the bed and nearly threw me off - I am on the ground floor in a very solid building - the bed moved back and I was in place - no damage here but most people left the building as soon as posslible. last aftershock I felt was 4.33 am local Sofia - Keeps shaking, it's scary. The first time the walls shook for around 20 secs, bottles, books, frames falling. It increased before easing off, there were two more shakes right away, and two more in an hour and half and in about two hours. Online advice says it's better to stay at home, next to an inner wall, a sturdy furniture or under a bed/table, away from mirrors, windows, kitchen and electricity devices. I am alone with the kid, it's scary. I feel a series of small aftershocks. Sofia - It woke me up. Sofia city center - I woke up from the violent shaking! Everyone at home is shocked. Can't go back to sleep. Afraid to go out yet. Sofia - A Sofia plusieurs tremblement dont les trois premiers très forts. Mon chien est encore agite ce qui me fait penser qu il y a encore des secousses à venir. Pendant plus d une heure aucune information n était disponible Sofia - I was in my car waiting for the green and my car has sport suspecions which are harder thank most of the cars out there but i could feel the car shaking like hell. Thanks God no one was injured or killed. Sofia - Girlfriend and me were doing it, and we noticed that we are taking the floor apart, and bending the walls. But then we noticed it was an earthquake!!! Sofia - The Bulgarian networks report for a demolished house in Rudartsi but no casualties except for some people from Sofia and Pernik suffering from high blood pressure from the stress. Sofia center - First experience. Felt it strong, woke up like someone where shaking my bed, while a subway train passed the floor below, noisy rumble. Sofia - Falling objects, interrupted power supply, initial shock 4.1, secondary - 5.8, over 20 aftershocks some as much as 4.3 on the rihter scale Sofia, Bulgaria - When i woke up the flat was like going forward and backward. I was very scared and i thinked it was a IX. Igot out of the flat quickly. I stayed in the car for about 3 hours. Sofia, Lulin - Very strong shaking. The wardrobe doors opens and woven door open, but no damages. Bulgaria - Yes, I felt it... I woke up and everything was jolting so strong Sofia - It was the most powerful earthquake I ever felt. Not overly scary but pretty powerful. Many people go down to the streets. I'm at my girlfriends place on the 5th floor and it felt intense, though noting fall down. My mother told me that on the 11th floor where we live, many books and other things have fall on the ground. Sofia, Bulgaria - Fell off the bed when it hit and part of wardrobe hit me. Sofia - Scary, as it was the n-th consecutive shake... Feels as it's not going to stop. No one knows when and if it's going to stop... Pazardzhik - We are living on the 12th floor, was 3:00 oclock when it happened. I felt myself like i was in an old elevator, it was scary. No demage, but the neighborhood was in panic. Sofia,Bulgaria - .. I couldn't sleep cause of these goddamn earthquakes .. woke me up 4 times on the fifth I couldn't even sleep anymore .. Was kind of annoying for me. Sofia, Bulgaria - My house is at less than 15 km from the epicentre of the earthquake and I felt all the three big earthquakes - the first at 3:02 - 5.8, the second at 4:10 - 4.7 and the third one at about 5 a.m. Everything was shaking very strongly, a lot of chimneys in my area felt, a lot of cracks appeared in the walls of the houses. Even one of the walls of my school, ehich is located in the centre of Sofia almost fell. Bulgaria, Sofia - I did not feel the first earthquakes, due to the fact that I have been indeed sleeping, but at around 02:30 am, when the shaking was the most violent. Me and my mother sprang out of bed, alarmed, the cat was hiding. When I looked out of the window, I could see that all of my neighbours have turned on their lights as well. Afterwards we went back to sleep. I almost doozed off half an hour later when I felt the next quake. Didn't get any sleep after all. Sofia, Bulgaria - It was pretty strong shake. Sofia,Bulgaria - I was in Iztok neibourghood. In 3:00 there was a very strong earthquake and I went on the door's frame. Sofia - It was horrible .We spent all night outdoors .Aftershiokes didn't stop all night long. Sofia, BG - Slept like a baby... didn't even knock over my ipad (in the upright position (on the 13th floor of a Sofia hotel) Sofia - My apartment is on the 5th floor and around 3am It start to shake a lot. It was really scary and I couldnt get off my bed. After this i felt another 2 strong earthquakes. The strongest was 5,9. Scary...still we have some aftershocks. Sofia - This was between moderate and strong shaking, very rapid one, but it felt like two waves.(around 3 am) The bad thing is that I had such a nightmare the previous night with bad scenario and earth collapsing ((4:44am) also I had very strong desire not to stay in my home anymore. The desire still stays and I am planing this night to go to a friends house instead to be in our 8 floors building.Greets!:) Sofia - Както си спях усетих, че всичко се клати... Първо ми се стори, че сънувам, но после разбрах, че е наистина... Докато се разбудя и стана то спря... Явно си беше стабилно след като успя да ме събуди, а аз спя кат пън :D След това се чу някакво бумтене отвън в посока Перник... След няколк� Sofia Bulgaria - It was indeed a strong quake and a scary experience, the strongest I've experienced in my lifetime. Sofia, Bulgaria - About 10min before the earthquake began I heard the sound of air coming out, then a rhythmic sound as if some small ball kept bouncing on the ground outside for about 10min, then it started with a very loud sound and really strong shaking for over a minute.. the house seemed elastic. Sofia, Lozenec - I've been woken up by strong shaking waves which lasted at least 15 to 20 sek. First I thought I was dreaming but soon I realised it is a strong earth quake. Immediately after the first hit there was an other strong shake. Prеtty scared by that point we left the building about 30 sec after the second wave. Pure luck that there is only material damage. I can be certain that this was the stronger earth quake I ever remember. Sofia - It was first that shakes on 2 sides simultaneosly Thessaloniki, Cent. Macedonia, Greece - My wife was awake, but the earthquake wake me up , too Sofia, Bulgaria - I met my dad in the hallway to the front door, said he loves me much, has feared as well as me ... very uncomfortable when something like that found you sleepy ! Sofia - No Comment! Strong shaking with loud noise! Sofia Center - IL ETAIT ENTRE 3H05 ET 3H10, D'UN COUP CA S'EST MIT A TREMBLER SERIEUSEMENT PENDANT 5 OU 6 SECONDES. LA TON INSTINCT DE SURVIE ENTRE JEU ET FORCEMENT, TU SAUTES DU LIT COMME UN RESSORT. JE ME SUIS RENDU COMPTE COMME NOUS SOMMES IMPUISSANTS FACE A LA FORCE DE LA NATURE. APRES CA, UNE PETITE PLUIE DOUCE A RECOUVERT LA MEME REGION PENDANT QUELQUES MINUTES, SUITE A QUOI UNE AUTRE SECOUSSE, LEGEREMENT MOINS IMPORTANTE A SUIVI, AINSI QU'UNE 3EME ENCORE PLUS LEGERE. LES IMMEUBLES A SOFIA SONT VIEUX ET Drama, Greece - We felt it, it was scary, the lamps on the ceiling kept moving for 4 minutes. Sofia - First we heard the thunder and then the whole building start shaking. Thank God it was e very new condominium and 4 floors only. On the table in the dining room there was a bottle of drinking water. It was my seismic tool - at first the water was splashing and then it become static. And again splashing. We with my wife are visiting Sofia from Florida, but we have pretty good experience with the big earthquake in Romania in 1977. So, we went out in the near park for about an hour. Then we went ba Sofia - The 3 strongest quakes felt really shaking. Especially the first one. Each time when we decided to go back to sleep it started again. But I have a strong house = no damages. Marikostinovo, Sofiya, Bulgaria - In Bulgaria it was 4.7! Was 5.8! Sofia - I actually slept through the whole thing and noticed nothing
USGS	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.6	9.4	MAP	I Felt It
Plovdiv City - Was a big Earthquake. I never felt like this before. Ardino, Bulgaria - I got scared Vratsa, Bulgaria - Light to moderate shaking. Woke me up. No damage. Kyustendil - Lasted about 10 or so seconds, had a much stronger aftershock 3 minutes later which lasted for a second. Pleven - We were at home and we felt it quiete strong for a time of ca.10 seconds. Situation at the moment is quite. Rousse,Bulgaria - I am on 9th floor and i was awaken by shake 3-4 seconds. Bulgaria - Хисаря беше много силно Kardzhali, Bulgaria - Long time shaking, felt it on 7th floor, felt like around 4. Scary stuff Vidin - That was a strong earthquake Bulgaria - I was on my chair. And my head get socked ;x edirne/Turkey - durmucak sandım la yeminle Plovdiv - wow Пловдив - Sorry for bringing down your server, but the bulgarian media were asleep like always. Vidin - Wake me up around 3.30. I felt it very clear Plovdiv - I was asleep, then wake up an run out a flat Mich - I felt for the second time BULGARIA - not cool Костинброд - It was interesting experience, but it was not so powerful. Im 15-20km form the center but not a single obgect in the room move (only shake). I think peoples are more scared then actualy threatened. Gotse Delchev, South West Bulgaria - Horrible sounds and big shaking woke me up, dogs barking, I could hear the house crack, but Thank you, God, no major damage. Everybidy woke up, I was shaking, my heart sank. Couldn't go back to sleep at all. Plovdiv - Local time was 3AM, woke up because of the shaking. Couldn't feel the after-shakes though. kustendil - Didn't wake up until 10am local time Serdika - i was worry about my girlfriend as she living in Serdika and she entered with her family into their car , Bloody hell i hate this earthquake Pirdop, Bulgaria - 3am lokal time - awakened by mattress moving horizontally, heard a noise od something falling down outside in the central square of town Plovdiv - I woke up because my bed was shaked and the whole hotel makes strange noises. BRESTOVITSA (ob.Plovdiv) - J'habite à Brestovitza ; 18 kms de Plovdiv, 135 km environ de Sofia.A 3 heures du matin J'ai été réveillé en sursaut , croyant que quelqu'un secouait mon lit, la porte de ma chambre a remué ; je me suis levé d'un bond affolé ,croyant que quelqu'un était chez moi ,et j'ai aussitôt pensé à une secousse sismique , j'ai entendu les chiens des voisins aboyer mais ça n'a duré que quelques secondes ; c'est tres stressant comme impression , je le saurait pour la prochaine fois, La Bulgarie Sofia city - Our cat crawled unusually into our bed 30 minutes before the eathquate stroke, obviously trying to wake us up. Then at 3:00 a.m. the apt building starteds shaking severely accompanied by a deep groaning sound. The It was just terrific.
GEOFON	Bulgaria	May 22 00:00 AM	5.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Nis, Serbia - It felted in southeastern Serbia also! Edirne Turkey - it shaked lightly for 10 seconds. SERBIA - I felt it in Serbia about 2:00 local time Mladost 4, Sofia, Bulgaria - it was about 3 am - I woke up , I live on the 10th floor, everything was shaking. Skopje - i heard from skopje Thessaloniki, Greece - 3rd earthquake in three weeks in this area (thessaloniki greece-this last one in bulgaria was felt by myself as were the other 2 over the last 2 weeks-a sign of things to come?? i hope not Serbia, Nish - It lasted about 10 sec I would say prishtin - qfar halucionacione :p Nis Serbia - Dosta dugo je ljuljalo (oko 15-20 sekundi) Thessaloniki, Greece - It was short, but it felt like it hit my brain! I always freak out from earthquakes! Hisarya - was strongly 3:00 Bucharest - Felt it in Bucharest. Not very strong but my furniture started making noises.. Skopje, MKD - My desk was shaking for 4 seconds. Not surprized to be honest. İstanbul Turkey - it was ok Blagoevgrad - Was a big Earthquake. I felt it in about 2.40-2.50 local time. Pristina - Light shaking in Pristina just 10 minutes ago. Turkey - I felt it in Istanbul. Kragujevac - Weak shaking Tirana - I heart it Kumanovo - Scary...don't like living on the top floor: Skopje - (It was a pretty nice shake in Skopje! Serbia, Vlasotince - I felt the shaking,my monitor fell off Skopje, Macedonia - Felt it in Skopje, around 02:05 AM local time. Lasted about 10-15 seconds. Bornova, Izmir - living on 8th floor and hardly noticed Bucharest, Romania - I felt it here in Bucharest, Romania Skopje, Macedonia - Felt in Skopje,Macedonia - Moderate shaking. Eastern Sofiya - Windows sounded weird and the entire building was shaking. Some of the more stable furniture was almost moving on the floor...slightly... very slightly. Byala,Bulgaria - It was felt around 3am, strong enough to wake up us. Lasting for aproximatelly 10 sec. Nis - I swung in bed xD thessaloniki - I felt it in Thessaloniki wake as off the bed!and the neighbors came out to the balcony. Prishtina, Kosovo - 5th floor, sitting on a chair, it was smooth for about 3/4sec Niš, Serbia - I'm on the 10th floor of the building in Nis Pristina - Felt it quite well here in Pristina, living high up in a highrise building. Thought it was here as things were moving around. THESSALONIKI, GREECE - I WAS GOING SOME WORK IN ON MY iMAC WHEN I START FEELING THE "SHAKE" IT LASTED CLOSE TO 11-12 SECONDS - I LIVE ON THE 9TH FLOOR SO IT WAS PRETTY SCARY .... NO NOICE JUST A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF THE BUILDING ... - TO BE HONEST I THOUGHT IT WILL GET WORST ... - THANK GOD IT STOPPED ... - I THINK THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN THE AREA ... AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN THE NEAR FUTURE ... - I WISH NOT - BUT WAY TO MANY QUAKES LATELY .... NO GOOD SIGN AT ALL ... Thessaloniki Greece - I was sleeping and waked up from shaking Thessaloniki, Greece - I felt it in Thessaloniki, 240Km away from the epicentre. I could not believe it happened so far away. Drama, greece - It was scary earthquake. 3:00 exactly, cuboard doors opened etc, no damage, people woke up though all over town. Thessaloniki, Greece - I felt it in Thessaloniki, 240Km away from the epicentre. I could not believe it happened so far away. Bucharest - Light shaking, about 10-15 seconds long, no damage at all Bucharest, Romania - On the six floor apartment, in my armchair... after about 10 seconds, I went into the kitchen - to make sure is a earthquake - and watched for another 30 seconds how water moves in a bowl, found in the sink... like me :) Macedonia - It was strog...i am alone home don't know what to do...it was a very good shake...hope it we wont get another like that!!! S Xanthi, Greece - Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Xanthi, Greece - (Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Xanthi, Greece - (Playing Dota 2 when I got killed in lane and felt an weak trembling. I was Doomed : Kumanovo - (Schrikken geblazen .. Heftig trillingen in het huis 3x zware schokken gevoelt .. Nu maar veilig gaan slapen ;) Drama, Greece - I woke around 3am to find the bed shaking quite alot - then realised it must be an earthquake. It lasted around 10 seconds. No damages - just heard alot of rattling from things on shelves. About 20 seconds after it stopped I think I felt the bed shake lightly a couple of times from the aftershock. This seems to be happening here / close to here every couple of years, as I have lived in Drama 8 years now and this is the 4th earthquake since I've been here. Xanthi - I live in Greece, Xanthi and I felt it very strongly, I imagine in Sofia it would be extremely stronger. I live in a 5 floor building and it was shaken alltogether. Sofia - Felt three earthquakes at 3.01 h, 4.31 h, 5.14 h. The first was very shaking, the furniture creaked a terrible noise. There was an earthquake, after a few seconds followed by second quake. Many people took to the street and stood up in the morning. Nis, Serbia - Strong shake at 0212 and again at 0217 in nis serbia. scary!!

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Update 06:45 UTC :  Economic Losses could total around 500 million Euros including the losses to the cheese industry
- 400,000-500,000 cheese wheels each weighing an average 38.5 kilos. = 19.25 million kilos of cheese (Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano). The average lifecycle cost of a kilo of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano for earthquakes (averaged over all ages) is about 1 euros per 100g or 10 euros per kilo – i.e. for the producers.

- Thus the maximum loss expected for the cheeses is around 190-200 million Euros if the 500000 wheels estimation is correct.

- Additional damage to structures and other industry could total 250-350 million Euros.

Update 19:30 UTC :  INGV,  Unicredit, Helicopter overflight video
- INGV, the Italian seismological service has decided to strengthen its Emelia Romagna network
- Italian Bank UNICREDIT has put aside an amount of 100 million Euro to help reconstruct that damaged area houses and companies
- The RAI video below shows an overflight of the damaged area. Some buildings have resisted 100% and others just besides them have collapsed completely. The same kind of damage was also seen during the recent Turkish earthquake at VAN.

Update 18:15 UTC :
- INGV reports a couple of aftershocks who have been clearly felt in the earthquake zone.  Local times and Magnitudes : M3.5 @ 18:32, M4.1 @ 18:37, M3.1 @ 19:25 and EMSC reports a M3.6 @ 20:02.

Update 17:09 UTC :  State of Emergency,  Bank provision, damage repartition in epicenter area
- If the central government calls the State of Emergency tomorrow, as expected by the local authorities, the measure will allow financial aid and assistance to individuals and companies
- The Banca Populare dell’Emilia-Romagna has reserved 200 million Euro for rebuilding purposes
- The overall picture in Sant’Agostina is that 85% of the industrial constructions have been affected by the earthquake and only 15% of the residential houses!

Update 16:25 UTC :  strike, central government, jobs lost, PM Monti
- The scheduled strike from the farming workers for tomorrow has been canceled by the union because of the earthquake
- The central government has stressed that it will support the local authorities in dealing with all the additional work and damage compensation
- the CGIL trade union has estimated that approx. 5,000 jobs are at risk because of the earthquake
-  PM Monti will probably visit the hardest hit area tonight

Update 14:25 UTC :  Investigation into compliance with building code
- The prosecutor of the Ferrara district will lead an investigation into the dead of the 4 workers who were killed when their workspaces collapsed. The prosecutor will be checking whether the relatively young buildings did comply with the earthquake building code.

Update 14:25 UTC :  increased shelter capacity, Tuscany volunteers,  Council of Ministers
- The number of displaced people (mainly people who’s houses have structural damage) has increased to 5,000.
- The council of Ministers from the Italian government will meet tomorrow Tuesday and will most possibly order the state of emergency for the hard hit Po valley area.
- 140 volunteers from Tuscany have arrived in the earthquake area. They are mainly helping with setting up new refugee camps near Modena.

Update 14:11 UTC :  Finale Emilia, Lombardy, night in cars
- The mayor of Finale Emilia has said that he needs more help from outside his very hard hot city. Finale Emilia is together with Sant’Agostina one of the worser damaged areas. Both villages were very close to the epicenter.
- Roberto Formigone, the President of the Lombardy province has said that the damage in his province runs in the tens of millions of Euros.
- A lot of people who were not initially accepted in the shelters and who wanted to stay around their houses have spend the night in their cars as they were afraid for new severe aftershocks.

Child ina shelter - Snapshot from the RAI video below

Update 10:54 UTC :  Pediatric clinic, Cultural heritage damage
- The Italian Red Cross has set up a special temporary Pediatric Clinic to support the needs of young mothers and children. The clinic will be setup in Finale Emilia.
- Damage to architectural and cultural heritage is “very significant”, said Minister of Culture, Lawrence Ornaghi. It is still too early to give a final estimate, but in any case we are in the order of several tens of millions of Euro’s said the Minister.

Update 10:36 UTC :  Bank loans, additional shelters, early school closure
- Some Italian banks have granted owners of damaged residential and industrial constructions a delay of 12 months to get over this earthquake.  Additionally they will apply a favorable policy towards reconstruction loans.
- Civil Protection has erected more temporary shelters in the hard hit Modena area. The new tenting will be able to accommodate 1500 people.
- Some local mayors will meet soon to get an agreement on an early school ending in the area. Normally lessons are ending on June 9.  The main reason is that children can remain in the shelters with their parents and that in-depth inspections can be organized for the school buildings

Update 08:54 UTC :  immigrant workers, weather, solidarity
- Tension in a shelter in Finale Emilia. A group of North African laborers and their families were not amused at all when they were initially not granted admission in the shelters setup by the Civil Protection.  Civil Protection said that it is always giving priority to the children and the elderly.  After some fierce discussions, everybody was happy again, as there was enough space for everybody.
- Part of the tension in the above shelter is caused by the rainy weather. Staying outside in the rain is horrible for everyone.  One of the first elements Earthquake-Report.com looks at when an earthquake strikes is the weather at the time of the mainshock and the weather outlook. This morning temperature at Finale Emilia was only 10 °C and it is raining non-stop since early this morning.
- Authorities are asking all Italian people to show their solidarity with the victims of the earthquake. A plea in that sense was made by the President of the Emilia Romagna, Mr. Errani.

Update 07:54 UTC :  building code, European Union, Insurance companies
- A lot of specialists are really surprised about the number of modern facilities (some were build in 2000) who collapsed during the earthquake, especially industrial equipment and buildings.  The chief of Civil Protection told the RAI earlier today that this kind of collapses should be studied very carefully and that lessons should be learned.
The 2000 erected industrial constructions were build prior to the European EC8 earthquake-resistant building code implementation.
- People interested to read more about the zonation (areas where the building code should be enforced) of the EC8 building code can click here to read an overview document. More about the code itself can be found here.  Engineers do find it a pity that the code has not been enforced yet on all European countries with a potential earthquake risk. The code is used by the European countries as a reference. The code is dividing areas into different risk zones depending on the  ground accelaration and the historic earthquake patterns.
- The EC8 code was adopted in Italian law on March 30 2011

Update 21/05 – 07:24 UTC :  aftershocks, PM Monti
- The area has been shaken by 18 aftershocks since midnight UTC. The strongest one being a M3.5, which will have been felt as a weak shaking by the people living in the epicenter area. Earthquake-Report.com sees aftershocks of M4.5 or higher as a real danger for unstable buildings. So after all, we can conclude that people must have had an acceptable night.
- Since the mainshock during the night of May 20 until now, 150 aftershocks were recorded. 90% of these aftershocks could not be felt by people, but were recorded by sensitive seismographs from INGV.
- Prime Minister Monti has decided to return to Italy earlier than planned because of the earthquake. After meeting world leaders during the G8, mr. Monti should have traveled to Chicago to take part in the NATO top summit.  He now decided to return to Italy.

Update 22:41 UTC :  Civil Protection, false Facebook calls
- The Italian Civil Protection has prepared 4500 beds for people unable to spend the night at home
- Malicious persons have send (so called official) messages via Facebook to call the people to leave their houses for the night. The Police and Authorities have informed the people that they NEVER called for such action.  Police is thinking that people try to loot houses this way.

Update 21:36 UTC :  scary for the night
A lot of people from the direct epicenter area have decided to spend the night in their car  as they are scared for severe aftershocks. Shelters are only used for people who cannot return to their houses

Update 18:34 UTC : Anna Firs, an elderly woman of 86 years got sick at the time of the earthquake and perished in a hospital because of a heart attack later today. Anna Firs lived in Vigarano Mainarda.  This brings the number if indirect fatalities to 3 and the total to 7.

Update 18:25 UTC : INGV has announced that they cannot rule out another severe aftershock.
In fact NOBODY IN THE WORLD WILL BE ABLE TO PREDICT THE TIME or STRENGTH OF WHATEVER EARTHQUAKE or AFTERSHOCK.  As we said earlier today, aftershocks are normally weaker than the mainshock but this is only theory.  A good example of this exception theory was this weeks M4.8  Aftershock at Timpson, Texas. The mainshock occurred 7 days earlier and had a Magnitude   of M3.9!.

Update 18:20 UTC :  Mantua, Modena, shelters, highways
-150 people have been listed by the Mantua authorities for shelter for the night. They are unable to return to their damaged houses
- Modena has installed temporary shelters for 2000 homeless people
- The regional highway authority was happy to tell the press that NO problems were reported in their regional network of more than 400 bridges, viaducts, tunnels, etc

Update 18:13 UTC :  Rovigo churches,  firefighter,  cultural heritage
- Churches have been closed for further inspection in the Rovigo province.
- A firefighter who fell from a roof when the building he was inspecting during an aftershock collapsed is conscious again. Good news, but a further proof that these people are taking great risks to get close to unstable buildings.
- The vast cultural heritage in between Modena and Ferrara and especially in Emilia Finale has been suffered enormously.

Update 17:54 UTC :  aftershocks, hospital, PM Monti
- We have just counted 64 aftershocks since the mainshock at 02.03 UTC
- Civil protection will be helping with the evacuation of the hospital in Finale Emilia
- Prime Minister Monti, currently in Chicago for the G8 meeting, has said that he will do everything in his power to cope with the situation.  He is constantly updated by the responsible presidents of the damaged provinces.
- The Sant’Agostina area has suffered seriously from the M5.1 aftershock from this afternoon.

Update 17:13 UTC :  anti-looting, missing persons
- Police have organized anti-looting patrols to take care of unattended houses and buildings
- The president of Emilia Romagno has said to the press that nobody is missing anymore, making it probable that the current list of killend and injured people will remain as it is

KEEP FOLLOWING OUR NEWS REPORTS – EARTHQUAKE-REPORT.COM is probably the only specialized earthquake reporting website in the world combining scientific information with human impact information.

Update 16:21 UTC :  displaced people, additional damage after aftershock, power, animals
- Because of some cracks in Mantua’s Palazzo Ducale, the fire department has decided to close the building for the public
- The number of displaced people (people who cannot return to their houses) is currently estimated to be 3,000.
- The M5.1 aftershock was responsible for the additional collapse of a still standing part of the Sant’Agostine town hall
- ENEL, the main Italian power company, said that besides some isolated cases, all users have electricity again.
- Misery for a number of animals too. A number of stables have been collapsed and at least a herd of cows and breeding pigs have been covered by the rubble. We expect more livestock to be in trouble as everybody knows that stables are often in a bad condition.

Update 16:00 UTC : prisoners evacuated, telecommunications and Railway line working again
- Italian Railways have reopened the Bologna – Verona railway route.
- The Modena province has asked the national government to take urgent measures to help the owners of damaged houses and businesses. An extension in time to enter tax forms isd one of them.
- The 200 users cutoff from Telecommunications at Finale Emilia have been reconnected
- 500 prisoners have been evacuated from the Ferrara prison. Some of the prisoners were maffia linked and had to be kept away from others because of testimony programs.

Update 15:27 UTC : Damage will be huge!
Earlier in this article, we have reported to believe that the damage would go into the hundreds of millions of Euro’s. We will have to boost this damage considerably as a lot of factories and buildings may be found unstable to continue producing goods.  This economic damage will be added on top of the structural damage to buildings. James Daniell, an earthquake damage specialist working at Cedim Germany, will certainly be able to produce a very good estimate by tomorrow afternoon.

Update 15:21 UTC : Strong aftershock
A M5.1 aftershock struck the epicenter area at 13:18 UTC (15:18 local time). The depth of the hypocenter was at 8.9 km following USGS. INGV, Italy seismological institute, reports the same Magnitude but a depth of 5.1 km.
These continuous aftershocks are bad news for the people in the greater earthquake area as they will go on for many hours and will last at least until tomorrow, meaning that a lot of people will have to spend the night outside their own houses.  The aftershocks will gradually weaken, but the situation will be at least unstable for a limited number of days. The epicenter of the last aftershock was very close to Ferrara, much closer than the mainshock.  Normally, a M5.1 earthquake is not really damaging, but in combination with already unstable buildings, such shocks will be capable to increase the amount of damage considerably.

List of the deceased (5 in the Ferrara province and 1 in Bologna province)
- Nicholas Cavicchi, 35, resident of San Martino (Ferrara) and killed while working in factory in Sant’Agostino
- Ansaloni Leonardo, 51, resident of Reno Centese (Ferrara) and killed in the same factory as Mr. Cavacchi
- Gerardo Cesaro, 59, resident of Moline.
- Tarik Naouch, 29, residing in Crevalcore. Mr. Naouch was killed in the Ursa factory in Ponte Rodoni di Bondeno
- Nerina Balboni, 103, got a heart attack when she was buried partly by debris
- 37 year old German woman died of a heart attack in Bologna (we are still searching for her identity)
Earthquake-Report.com pays his respects to the family of all the deceased.

Update 12:19 UTC :
-The President of the National Council of Engineers has said that all efforts have now to be invested in more earthquake-resistant buildings. He mentioned especially the need to further stabilize historic buildings, one of the main damaged building types during this earthquake.
- The President of the Lombardy province, Mr. Roberto Formigoni, has joined the plea of the President of Emilia Romagna to call the State of Emergency in the earthquake damaged areas. Mantua, another seriously hit area is part of Lombardy.
- Schools will be closed tomorrow as inspection of school buildings will take place

Update 11:31 UTC :
- The number of people killed directly or indirectly remains the same
- Fifty people have been reported as injured
- The body of Gerardo Cesaro, worker at the Tecopress company has been recovered from below the rubble
- Italian President Napolitano has send his sympathy to the family of the killed people and has also send words of thanks to the  SAR people and all people involved in helping the victims of the earthquake. President Napolitano is constantly updated from the situation by the Italian Civil protection.
- Aftershocks are continue to strike the area.  At 11:13 a M4.2 aftershock made it very clear that the dangerous hours are not over yet. Stronger aftershocks are very exceptional but occur from time to time.
- The President of Emilia-Romagna has asked the National Government to call the state of National Emergency for the area.

Image courtesy INGV Italia - Yellow star : mainshock - yellow circle : M4.1 foreshock - big red circles : aftershocks in between M4 to M5

Update 09:55 UTC : Mr. Gabrielli, chief of the regional Civil Protection has declared that the situation is “under control”. Mr. Gabrielli told the press that he has overflown the greater earthquake area and that he has not seen serious problematic areas. Traffic is going smoothly, infrastructure is almost intact and damage is not widespread.

Update 09:47 UTC :
- Italian Civil Protection is organizing shelters for people who’s houses have been damaged by the earthquake.
- tens of people have been injured during the earthquake. The devastation is not widespread. Only isolated houses and buildings have suffered serious damage. We expect not earthquake-resistant building methods to be one of the major reasons that such serious damage has been inflicted.
- The collapse, partial collapse and damaged historic buildings are currently visited by Civil Protection and Local authorities to become a clear picture of the amount of damage.
- Earthquake-Report.com is increasing the expected amount of damage into the hundreds of millions Euros.  This amount not only includes damage to buildings and historic sites but also to the economy.

Update 09:23 UTC : INGV has reported 41 aftershocks so far, the strongest being a M4.9 at 03:02 UTC (05:02 local Italian time). 5 aftershocks measured M4 or higher and 14 aftershocks in between M3 and M4.

Update 09:15 UTC : The Mantua area was also seriously damaged. The church of Felonica in Mantua was damaged.

Update 09:11 UTC : Many people in the greater epicenter area remain in the streets fearing for aftershocks.

Important Update 08:56 UTC : The death toll has increased to 6 when a worker was found under the rubble of the Tecopress factory at St. Augustine (Ferrara). 4 are considered in earthquake terms as shaking deaths, 2 people have been killed indirectly (see below).

Update 08:47 UTC : Click on the pictures below to see more images of the damage inflicted by this deadly earthquake.

Images courtesy and copyright La Repubblica - Click on the images to see more of them

Update 08:35 UTC :  The Chief of Civil Protection from the Ferrara province has just arrived at the Prefecture office and is now leading an assessment and operations meeting with his staff.
- Based on the many images we have seen so far, the damage will run into at least tens of millions of Euro’s, probably a lot more. Some historic buildings have collapsed completely, others partially. Industrial warehouses have been damaged. So far we have NO immediate numbers of injured, but a lot of people living in damaged houses must have at least minor injures.

Update 08:26 UTC :  To give our readers an idea of the extend of the damage, we have combined a “before” and “after” image of the Castle of Finale Emilio. The angle is not the same, but you can see very good that the towers have almost completely collapsed.  Images courtesy and copyright of its owners, damaged castle from Gianluca Diegoli via twitter and the “before” picture from animoweb.it.

Update 08:18 UTC :  The earthquake was also felt in the neighboring countries. We got I Have Felt It reports from the Alps region, Slovenia and the Cote d’Azur (France).

Update 08:09 UTC :  2 helicopters of the Italian Police are overflying the earthquake hit areas and are trying to locate and to guide SAR forces (Search and Rescue forces) to eventual collapsed or heavily damaged buildings. These overflying helicopters are especially looking for old abandoned houses were often poor families are residing.

Update 08:01 UTC : The Palace of Venice, an historic building in Finale Emilia, badly hit by the earthquake, is partially collapsed. The 11 people from three families who lived there were rescued by SAT personnel.

Update 07:58 UTC : It is still not sure how many people have exactly perished during this earthquake. We have counted 4 so far, but the number may increase slightly. Let us make an overview.
- 2 indirect fatalities (a 37 year old ill woman died probably of an heart attack and a 100 year old person probably from the same)
- a Moroccan worker died in Ponte Rodoni, Bondeno. He worked at Ursa, a polystyrene foam company, and his shift would end at 5.  He was killed when a support beam collapsed on his head.
- 2 Italian workers were killed when a roof from a ceramics manufacturing company collapsed on them. Theur work shift would have ended at 6.
3 shaking deaths and 2 indirect killed people is the sad result so far.

Update 07:45 UTC : A 5 year old child was rescued out of the rubble in a collapsed building in Finale Emilia !

Historic earthquakes map courtesy INGV - earthquake in between M6 and M7

Update 07:32 UTC : The earthquake’s epicenter was located in a area which has no damaging earthquakes since a long time.  We have to go back to 1570 for a major earthquake near Ferrara and to even 1346 for another M6 to M7 earthquake at a distance of approx. 20 km from the current epicenter. From 2002 to 2008 6 smaller earthquakes (less than M4) occurred within a radius of 20 km.

Update 07:17 UTC : A lot of people are asking themselves why an earthquake with (only) a M5.9 Magnitude can inflict such a lot of serious damage.  Not only was this earthquake very shallow (close to the surface), but one of the main factors is that the earthquake occurred in a relatively soft soil area. Soft ground layers are propagating the earthquake waves a lot stronger than areas with harder rocky layers.

Update 06:41 UTC : 2 earthquake of respectively M4.1 and M2.2 were precursors of the damaging M6 mainshock. Since that mainshock, INGV has recorded 12 aftershocks!

Important Update 06:39 UTC : We are sad to tell that a 4th fatality has been reported. We have also a few more details on the killed people. All of the death people are coming from the Ferrara area. 2 people died in a pottery factory in Ferrara. A third person died in the Ferrara Bondeno industrial zone and the 4th victim was a 37 year ill woman who died of an heart attack.

Update : The video below shows the damage to a couple of buildings in the Ferrara area.  The shaking must have been very strong to inflict this kind of damage.

Update : The video below is mainly a picture from a damaged building combined with an interview with the Governor of the Ferrara province (in Italian). The governor talks about a lot of damage to bridges, schools, historic buildings etc. She calls the situation very serious.

Update 06:35 UTC : In San Felice sul Panaro, near Modena, the tower of the fortress collapsed. Another tower went down in Finale Emilia, and a nursing home was evacuated.

Update : Mostly historic buildings have been damaged in the quake. Click here for series of images from La Repubblica.  Some churches and older buildings collapsed completely.

Damage in Northern Italy after the May 20 earthquake - Images courtesy and copyright La Repubblica - Please click on these pictures to see more of them in La Repubblica

Update : The 3 killed people are believed to be 3 farm workers in the Ferrara area

Update : The heavy shaking lated for about 20 seconds

Update : As what can be expected, everybody ran to the streets after feeling the shaking.

Update : A church bell collapsed in Ferrara, in Finale Emilia a church steeple was reported damage, in San Felice Parano a segment of a castle collapsed.

Update : USGS has upgraded the earthquake to 6.0 at a depth of only 5km. The updated PAGER says 73,000 people would felt a severe shaking!! and 178,000 a very strong shaking. Avery bad sign.

Update :  An also strong aftershock M5.1 occurred 59 minutes later

Shaking map courtesy USGS

Update :  The village who has been hit most (MMI VIII) was Camposanto, a little town with 3,000 inhabitants.

Update : GDACS reports that the nearest populated places are: Stuffione (20km), Ronchi (19km), Sammartini (19km), Solara (18km), San Pietro (19km), Cantone (19km), Caselle (16km), San Prospero (18km), Camposanto (15km), Palata Pepoli (17km), Galeazza (19km), Casoni (16km), Cadecoppi (15km), Staggia (15km), Gorzano (14km), Alberone (19km), Motta (16km), Reno Centese (19km), Entra (12km), Finale Emilia (16km), Villafranca (12km), Cavezzo (13km), San Felice sul Panaro (10km), Rovereto sulla Secchia (17km), Rivara (10km), San Felice San Panaro (9km), Medolla (10km), Massa Finalese (11km), Disvetro (13km), La Quiete (15km), Pioppa (15km), Pavignane (8km), San Biagio (8km), San Giacomo Roncole (9km), Camurana (8km), Sant’antonio In Mercadello (16km), Viarovere (14km), Mortizzuolo (6km), Bellaria (13km), Scortichino (17km), Mirandola (7km), San Possidonio (12km), Cividale (5km), Novi di Modena (19km), San Giovanni Battista (12km), Burana (18km), Concordia (12km), Quarantoli (3km), Fossa (8km), Redena (11km), Gavello (4km), San Martino in Spino (8km), Moglia (17km), Rangona (16km), Vallalta (10km), Pilastri (13km), Zerbinate (19km), Tramuschio (4km), Valle San Martino (17km), Stoppiaro (5km), La Pedocca (14km), Zambone (13km), Bondanello (15km), Malcantone (11km), Marzettelle (20km), Dragoncello (7km), San Giovanni del Dosso (6km), San Giacomo Delle Segnate (9km), Carobio (5km), Galvagnina (18km), Felonica (18km), Roversella (14km), Santa Croce (12km), Trivellano (16km), Quattrocase (7km), Calto (19km), Agnolo (8km), San Rocco (12km), Schivenoglia (9km), Sermide (16km), Villa Poma (8km), Magnacavallo (9km), Quistello (15km), Ghisione (9km), Moglia (14km), Castelmassa (18km), Fienili (12km), Castelnovo Bariano (16km), Zello (11km), Nuvolato (15km), Pieve di Coriano (12km), Carbonara di Po (14km), Carbonarola (16km), San Benedetto Po (20km), Quingentole (14km), Santa Lucia (16km), Bonizzo (14km), Revere (14km), Borgofranco sul Po (15km), Libiola (15km), Mirasole (18km), Bergantino (18km), Melara (16km), Correggioli (15km), Serravalle A Po (16km), Ostiglia (16km), Sustinente (18km), Santo Stefano (18km), Cardinala (18km). The closest civilian airport is Guglielmo Marconi (46km).

Update : The shaking must have been extremely strong with a max. intensity of VIII (severe shaking) which was felt by 7,000 people. 91,000 people have felt a potentially damaging MMI VII very strong shaking and 191,000 people a strong shaking.

The earthque happened in the heavily populated triangle Mantua,  Ferrara Modena area.
The damaging earthquake  occurred after another M4.2 earthquake took place a few hours earlier at 01:15 local time (see our earthquake list from May 19).

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M6.0
UTC Time : Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 02:03:52 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 04:03:52 AM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 5.1 km
Geo-location(s) :
7 km NW Finale emilia (pop 15,337)
30 km W Ferrara (pop 131,771)
36 km (22 miles) NNW of Bologna, Italy

Links to important maps
USGS Did You Feel It Map
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area
Historic earthquakes map
Seismic hazard map
Shaking map
Scientific parameters
Human impact map

Click here for examples of our “earthquake notifications (button below)”

SRC	Location	UTC Date/time	M	D	INFORMATION
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 23:53 PM	2.8	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 23:04 PM	4.1	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 23:04 PM	4.0	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 22:45 PM	2.8	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 22:22 PM	3.6	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 22:22 PM	3.9	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 22:05 PM	2.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 19:26 PM	3.1	15.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 18:11 PM	3.9	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
Argenta - Felt it clearly. Shaking again, since 1.00 am tonite
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 18:11 PM	3.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 17:52 PM	3.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Northern Italy	May 20 17:37 PM	4.7	21.0	MAP	I Felt It
Vicenza, Italy - We just had another aftershock about 4 mins ago...Sitting on my bed on my second floor as it shook
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 17:37 PM	4.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 17:37 PM	4.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 17:20 PM	3.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 16:50 PM	3.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 14:51 PM	4.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Modena - terrified night and day
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 14:51 PM	4.1	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 14:51 PM	3.4	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 13:18 PM	5.1	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
Trento - 1321 UTC. lasted for long time trento - was quite long! arcugnano - About 40 seconds of shaking. Pictures and mirrors on wall were moving. Heard glasses in the cabinets rattling. Castelfranco Emilia - Stronger and longer than previously, quite fearful this one. Argenta - Shaking experience bad feeling Milano - Felt slow undulations in my aptartment building back and forth for about 20 seconds Milano - Felt slow undulations in my apartment building back and forth for about 20 seconds Ferrara - Moderate shaking reported Modena - a las 4:05am empezó un ruído que durante 20seg fué ascendiendo
USGS	Northern Italy	May 20 13:18 PM	5.1	8.9	MAP	I Felt It
INGV	Pianura Padana Emiliana, Italy	May 20 13:18 PM	5.1	4.7	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 13:18 PM	5.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 13:01 PM	3.4	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 13:01 PM	3.5	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 12:50 PM	4.2	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
Itaky - Only felt a slight tremor this time. Nothing compared to this morning. Castelfranco Emilia - chair shakes at 1st floor.
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 12:50 PM	3.8	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 11:22 AM	3.5	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 11:22 AM	3.1	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 10:59 AM	3.6	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 10:59 AM	3.9	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 10:59 AM	4.1	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 10:51 AM	3.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 10:51 AM	3.8	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 10:12 AM	4.5	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 10:12 AM	4.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Northern Italy	May 20 10:12 AM	4.5	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 10:12 AM	3.8	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 09:13 AM	4.5	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Northern Italy	May 20 09:13 AM	4.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Argenta - This one just woke me from sleeping after tonite's shakes... Not so hard but clearly felt. Trento - Woke me up, but not serious like early in the mornin 4:04
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 09:13 AM	4.5	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 09:13 AM	4.5	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 08:47 AM	3.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 08:47 AM	4.0	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 08:15 AM	4.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 08:15 AM	3.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 08:05 AM	3.0	15.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 07:51 AM	2.9	15.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 07:42 AM	3.0	15.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 07:36 AM	3.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 07:34 AM	3.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 07:23 AM	4.0	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 07:23 AM	3.6	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 07:00 AM	2.7	30.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 06:41 AM	2.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 06:32 AM	3.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 06:32 AM	3.6	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 06:32 AM	3.7	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 06:13 AM	3.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 06:13 AM	3.6	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 05:45 AM	3.0	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 04:57 AM	3.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 04:50 AM	2.9	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 04:33 AM	3.5	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 04:22 AM	3.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 03:44 AM	2.9	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 03:34 AM	3.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 03:32 AM	3.5	15.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 03:07 AM	3.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Northern Italy	May 20 03:02 AM	5.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 03:02 AM	5.2	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Venice - Another little tremor. Pretty terrified : Bergamo - (5h5 sentita altra scossa Milano - Another shaking. 4th floor.just moved to Italy, never experienced this before. Viareggio - 10 seconds of bed shaking. Argenta - Another shaking after the bigger one at 0404 am: this one was shorter.
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 03:02 AM	5.2	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:52 AM	3.2	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:37 AM	3.8	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:37 AM	4.0	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:35 AM	4.0	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 02:35 AM	4.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:32 AM	3.7	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:29 AM	3.5	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:25 AM	3.8	2.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:20 AM	4.3	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Northern Italy	May 20 02:03 AM	6.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Florence - Very weak shaking reported Milano - Very weak shaking reported MILAN - Moderate shaking reported Longare (VI) - Shook just enough to wake me from sleep. Not like the severe shaking that just happened at 4 am, which severely shook my apartment building and set off car alarms. Trento, Italy - 3rd floor of apt. building Torri de Benaco - Waking up in bed, Shaking for minutes Milano - Woke up to the apartment shaking. No noise, lased less than a minute Asolo, Italy - Light shaking indicated Arzignano (VI) - 4.05am woke to moderate shaking followed by at least 2 smaller after-shocks Florence, Italy - Woke my husand and I out of a sound sleep at 0400. Bologna - 4h first time in my life Padova - Strong shaking reported ITALY - Woke everyone up. Closet doors rattling and car alarms going off. Parma - The shaking last more than 15 seconds and wake up everybody from the beginning. No fallen objects. (2nd floor) Noale - grew up in southern california, shook pretty good here. Venice - On holiday in Venice, from the UK. Just got woken up by bed shaking and very scary noises. Hoping that was it....us Brits are not used to it!! Arcugnano - Woke from a deep sleep to shaking that lasted for about a minute. Everything on the walls shook, but nothing fell. Car alarms were set off. milan, 6th floor - woke me up from sleep Forlì - I'm sleeping Bologna - Strong enough to wake me and my wife and to cause some little light objects to fall. Desenzano del Garda - Woken up Milano - Woke up for a light shaking, first time in my life. 4th floor Desenzano del Garda - Light shaking reported Zermatt Switzerland - 4am Shook me out of bed and dresser handles rattled pretty good. Milano - Woke up for shaking S.Maria di Sala, Venice,Italy - 4.03am The noise and vibration woke me & my husband from a deep sleep. (2nd floor) Not as violent as I've felt on previous occasions but very pronounced and prolongued swaying sensation - maybe 10 or 15 seconds. Furniture creaking, crockery rattling, dogs barking. Scary. Bologna - Strong enough to wake almost every people in our building. Reggio Emilia - Down from bed!!! Reggio Emilia - Sorry... MMI VII is the correct MMI Genova - Nervi - Woke me up with a thud and a rolling action. Lived 20 plus years in SF bay area and still don't like these things. Genova - Nervi - Moderate shaking indicated Arzignano (VI) - Moderate shaking reported Lugano - 10-15 sec of shake. Wake off on 5th floor. Bergamo - h405 4th floor strong Porec (Parenzo) - Woke up while sleeping. Low hum, shaking, glasses vibrating, hanging stuff oscillating. Novo naselje (Porec jug), houses in a row, 2 floors, bedroom is upstairs. Duration: about 5 seconds. Thanks, greetings. Montecchio Maggiore - The bed was really shaking, the wooden furniture squeaking, the wine glasses rattled in the cabinet, the closet sounded as if someone was inside dancing a rumba. I was so scared I couldn't get out of bed. I heard my neighbours open windows and go into the street. I heard the furniture squeak again, saw the water in the bottle shake, heard people cry and myself I started to cry. Here we go again, another quake! Trento,Italy - Again ??? Alpbach, Tyrol - Light shaking indicated ITALY - Woke up to building shaking. No sounds outside, many slept through it. A series of tremors afterwards, one about 29 minutes ago. I am in Venice, Italy. Milan - Awakened by swaying. Heard hangers knocking in the closet. Cagliari - Ho sentito nella notte verso le 2:05 un forte boato. Dopo circa 10 secondi un' altro boato. Dopo qualche minuto un terzo boato, seguito da un quarto dopo altri minuti. Verso le 2:15 l' ultimo boato. Ho creaduto fossero delle esplosioni ma erano di uguale intensità e a distanze differenti. Florence, Italy - Bed shaking quite strongly around 4:20AM. It seemed to last 5seconds, then pause à few seconds, then again shaking 5seconds. It frightened me because I didn't know if it would continue...as I am from San Francisco and was there for thé 6.7 in 1989. Carpi (Modena) italy - Strong shaking indicated Lido di Pomposa - wakker geworden, huis bewoog, rare ervaring Cannes - Reveillé dans la nuit, secousse faible 04h06. Cannes France Vicena, Italy - We have experienced a light shaking here Marina di Carrara (MS) - Strong shaking reported Gardalake Italy - shaky shaky again on 2nd floor. it scares the crap out of me everytime. Ferrara - Moderate shaking indicated Savignano sul Panaro - Awakened during the night by a strange "wind-lke" sound and oscillating motion of the bed. Torino, Italy - Bed shaking around 4am, 5th floor. Padua - We live on the ground floor in an old building in the historic city centre of Padua, Veneto, Italy. At 4AM we felt strong shaking that lasted about 20 seconds. We heard creaking floor boards and furniture, and rattling pots and plates. People who live on the upper floors felt it even stronger. We felt a lighter after-shock at 5AM. No serious damage to buildings has been recorded in Padua so far, except a roof ledge that collapsed in the town centre. Pontecorvo (FR) - Salve la notte tra il 18 e il 19 maggio ho avvertito una piccola scossa..stavo dormendo e ho sentito tremare il letto...mi sono svegliata e due secondi dopo ho sentito tremare il letto.. Argenta - Heard a big "booom" which woke me up. After that 20 secs of shaking, many people ran outside. Milan, Italy - woke me up from sleep! Pisa - Bed shook for a few seconds and light swayed for 30 secs. Milano - Woke me up; was a slow rolling wave, not rattling Milano - Woke me up; was a slow rolling wave, not rattling Sant'ilaria d'Enza - Wake up at once and no time to think and act Padova - Fairly strong earthquake here in Padova. No damages whatsoever, but as we live on the third floor, we significantly felt it. Since then, we've been feeling many minor earthquakes all day long. Interesting experience but I hope it won't get any stronger than that ! Gorizia - Sesto piano, ondeggiamento deciso, il palazzo ha vibrato compatto, senza rumori di muri o solette, ma l'ascensore ha fatto rumore nella sua tromba. Nessun danno rilevato Trento - Le finestre agitavano come un vibratore del cellulare e mi ha svegliato fortissimo Parma - Woke me up from a deep sleep. Room was shaking. Capannori Centro Toscana - We live in a sixth floor apartment in a 1982 building. Shaking woke us up. Knew immediately it was an earthquake. ITALY - Stavo dormendo, quando mi sono svegliato perché tremava tutto forte, un pendolo di porcellana tremava e faceva rumore, si sentiva anche una specie di boato. Ma io mi sono svegliato la mattina verso le 8 e 15 minuti convinto di aver sognato invece ho appreso che si trattava di un vero e proprio terremoto. Spero di essere stato di aiuto. Azzano di Seravezza - Light shaking indicated montecchio maggiore, vicenza, italy - I was teaching in class when i noticed the water in my bottle shaking on the table. On Sunday 20th between 4 and 6 am that's the same thing that happened. The shaking was much stronger then, everything rattled and shook and squeaked...but this morning at around 8 the water in the bottle was slowly moving from one side to the other.
INGV	Emilia-romagna - Modena, Italy	May 20 02:03 AM	5.9	6.3	MAP	I Felt It
USGS	Northern Italy	May 20 02:03 AM	6.0	5.1	MAP	I Felt It
GEOFON	Northern Italy	May 20 02:03 AM	6.1	10.0	MAP	I Felt It
Udine - Woke at 4am to the 4th floor hotel bed swaying like someone trying to wake me...it worked!

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Update 07:32 UTC : I

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With the collaboration of Joke Volta, an El Hierro resident and Julio del Castillo Vivero, photographer.
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Useful links : @VolcanoReport – El Hierro Picasa Photo Album

Update 10/05 – 21:16 UTC
- No pictures from Joke today
- Only an earthquake today below the sea to the east of Tenerife (non-volcanic) M 2.5 at a depth of 30 km

Update 09/05 – 17:56 UTC
- We have added more images of May 6 from Joke to the already present series
- We have added also the first part of the images from May 7

Update 09/05 – 14:00 UTC
- With surprise, after a week, IGN CSIC with collaboration of Salvamar Adhara have published a 6 minute video of the volcano showing a lot of degassing.
- The images are part the volcanic activity followup by the CSIC and IGN team taken from the Salvamar Adhara. Images are from top parts of the volcano but not the cone. The degassing can later be converted into green and blue stains on the surface as we have seen in the past week and on the video filmed on the Atlantic Explorer from Julio del Castillo Vivero.

Update 09/05 – 06:00 UTC
- New earthquake which occurred at 01:13 at a depth of 15 km with a Magnitude of 0.9 here

Update 08/05 – 21:03 UTC
- A Magnitude 1.2 earthquake occurred at a depth of 14 km to the North of Frontera at 14:48 UTC

Update 08/05 – 09:39 UTC
- NO earthquakes so far today

Update 07/05 – 19:12 UTC
- Joke has asked to apologize to our readers that she cannot reach the daily deadline due to a heavy program she is executing with Julio del Castillo Vivero. As said earlier, Julio is currently making an independent documentary on the eruption. Joke is guiding Julio to the different historic eruption spots. We have just now published the May 5 series from their walk to the lighthouse (see below).
- NO new earthquakes today. Unless some important new earthquakes are happening, it looks like we will be near the end of the magma pressure, at least for a while. Accordingly we expect the Yellow main vent alert to turn green also if we will witness a period of a few weeks without an earthquake.

Update 06/05 – 15:00 UTC
- 1 very weak earthquake since midnight. A 0.4 Magnitude earthquake at a depth of 11 km in the direct area of the main vent.

Update 05/05 – 23:00 UTC
- NO earthquakes today
- Joke has also taken some pictures today, but she still has to select them and they will probably be online within 2 days.
- let’s compensate the delay we had in uploading the images from Joke Volta on May 5. Joke walked with Julio along the southern coast towards the lighthouse and they made a great series of images.

Update 04/05 – 20:00 UTC
- NO earthquakes or important activity today
- Images of Joke Volta from today May 4, 2012

Update 03/05 – 20:00 UTC
- NO earthquakes today
- Images Joke and Julio from earlier today

Update 02/05 – 23:37 UTC
- Images Joke and Julio have taken this morning

Update 02/05 – 20:37 UTC
- NO earthquaks today
- The daily schedule from Joke will be considerably changed the following days. As we have minor activity in the Las Calmas sea and as Joke is accompanying Julio del Castillo Vivero during the recording of his documentary, a daily visit to La Restinga is not working out well. So, the next days, Joke will be touring the island of El Hierro as a guide to Julio. In case something important is going on in the Las Calmas sea, Joke and Julio will be racing to La Restinga to report about it. In the meantime, we will take you along El Hierro on a sightseeing trip. The picture below shows the spot above La Restinga, where Joke takes her hum human-webcam pictures.

Update 02/05 – 08:25 UTC
- Joke Volta and Julio del Castillo Vivero went to check from La Restinga this morning if there was a stain or jacuzzi. None of them were observed today.
- Two earthquakes yesterday night of M 1.0. No earthquakes since midnight.

Update 01/05 – 19:39 UTC
- Joke Volta’s images of the day

Update 01/05 – 09:13 UTC

Remark from Earthquake-Report.com after 10 months of following the volcano activity
At Earthquake-Report.com we are getting more and more frustrated about the NON-communicative attitude of the Spanish scientists and politicians. Wherever they come from (mainland or the Canaries), they are looking at the international community as non-existent (only for tourism promotion). They have treated the El Hierro eruption so far as a Nationalistic event. All involved scientists in Spain are promptly speaking English at international conferences, but have hardly exchanged a word in English since the beginning of the eruption. We have to admit that the local Spanish press from Diario El Hierro and Diario de Avisos, to name a few but not the only ones, did a great job in collecting information. We received a max. of 2 emails with 3 sentences each, from scientists reacting on what we wrote (in nearly 10 months). They could have used various channels to reach us. Only the Non-Profit SOS Oceanos crew was as it should have been. Not too many words, open minded towards Joke and exchanging a few notes. We like SOS Oceanos eternally for this attitude .
Since the beginning of the eruption, Earthquake-Report El Hierro articles have been read by more than 1.5 million unique visitors. A lot of these readers are potential tourists but do have a double feeling about El Hierro. We did not write it down and have even erased comments saying that due to the narrow mind of the local politicians, they did cancel a programmed trip to El Hierro. What a pity!
It looks like open communication is still not an issue in science neither. May we remind science that one of the important sponsors of their scientific research is the European Union. The majority of our El Hierro readers are European Union citizens and should be more respected as they all pay taxes to sustain this research.
The local community volcano followers at AVCAN are treated a little better, but also the great AVCAN site lacks involvement of local politicians and National scientists. The big difference vs ER is the close relations they have with Canary Islands scientists.
Science people from all over the world, you are living in 2012!, an era with an open Internet were people from all over the world want to be instantly informed about what is going on. Hiding information and even blackening webcams is an attitude from the past. Informing the vast interested worldwide community should be one of your tasks only as a respect to those paying for your research. We know of course that most scientists are burdened with writing Papers who are in most cases distributed behind Paying Walls of Elsevier and Springer and who are having a readership of 1% or less from what we do, but this may be no reason to not participate at the open Internet. Letting people pay to read something they have sponsored themselves with their taxpayers money has no morale!
From the very start of this website ER has invited science to contribute to our site an a way that a normal interested person can understand what is written. We can only repeat it over and over again.

Update 01/05 – 08:30 UTC
- 1 earthquake this morning. The epicenter was located in El Golfo at a depth of 18 km. Magnitude : 1.6
- One of the ULPGC/Qstar team members, Mr. Antonio Gonzales Ramos, is giving more details of what they have noticed on their recent Atlantic Explorer trip (the one Julio del Castillo Vivero joined) in the AVCAN website.
* Activity and colored waters were alternated with periods of no activity (activity during the morning hours and no activity in the afternoon)
* This activity was also reflected in the PH which was 7 during the morning and 7.5 during the afternoon. The normal Ph in the Ocean is higher than 8.2. This slightly acidic Ph is caused by the CO2 in the water
* The green color of the water was due to complex metallic chemicals (oxides)
* Ashes were found in the surface waters as well as in the sampling at a depth of 50 meter
* The column of CO2 and ashes in the water are the main reason that small fish are not surviving when they pass in this acidic streaming. This explains also the seagulls eating these killed fish above the vent. In ER terms this means that when the images of Joke are showing seagulls above the main vent, that the water has probably a lower Ph in that area.
* Mr. Gonzales also indicates that the seagulls are the first ones to see a coloring of the gas emission points. As they know that this color means “food”, they immediately are hanging around.
This content is translated by ER from the original comment in the Avcan site

Read also: Scientific paper reveals massive historic Tenerife volcano flank collapse
Read also: Economic impact on El Hierro and the Canary Islands if an aerial eruption would occur
Read also: The 2011 submarine volcanic eruption in El Hierro (Canary Islands), Spain

Volcano Discussion Panel : If you are a person who wants to discuss and read about all aspects of volcanoes, this discussion panel might be a very good place to hang around. Especially if we start speculating about what to happen next, this panel is a great place to look at. Give it a chance.

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Useful links : @VolcanoReport – El Hierro Picasa Photo Album

Update 30/04 – 19:38 UTC
- Joke Volta’s pictures of the day

Update 30/04 – 09:38 UTC
- 1 (very weak) earthquake so far today. A M0.4 at a depth of 8 km to the SW of El Pinar
- Below an image from ER reader Marc Delva who stayed as a tourist at El Hierro. The picture was taken on April 28 while the Atlantic Explorer was exploring the main vent site (see also close by picture from the main vent and the seagulls below). This picture is showing what we call as a faint stain.

Atlantic Explorer to the right of the stain on April 28 - Image courtesy Marc Delva

Update 29/04 – 22:50 UTC
- At 21:53 today, a M 1.3 earthquake occurred at a depth of 13 km to the SW of El Pinar

Update 29/04 – 16:45 UTC
- NO earthquakes today
- Video made by Julio del Castillo Vivero yesterday on board of the Qstar Atlantic Explorer. Julio writes : Filmed the 28th of April onboard the Atlantic Explorer with QStar Crew Members and ULPGC scientists above the main vent where many seagulls are looking for dead small fish.

Update 29/04 – 16:00 UTC
- Joke Volta images of the day

Update 29/04 – 10:25 UTC
- A stain is present in Las Calmas sea this morning. No jacuzzi has been observed. This stain could be the remains of yesterday’s activity. Joke images will be online later today.

Update 29/04 – 10:20 UTC
- An amazing picture of the waters of the vent area which was photographed yesterday by Julio del Castillo Vivero. Colored waters with a lot of seagulls having lunch with dead fish

Update 28/04 – 23:48 UTC
As written earlier, Julio del Castillo Vivero was invited by the crew of the Atlantic Explorer to sail with them to the vent area. He wrote the following :
Hello, very good day with the Atlantic Explorer, the crew of Qstar and the scientists of ULPGC. I was above the volcano! A very special moment for me after many months following the eruption. I saw lots of seagulls above the main vent, eating dead fish, around the size of 10cm that was emerging to the surface.
The stain was very clearly visible today from the boat, with a green color, not super strong concentrated as used to, but quite clear.
I didn’t get seasick at all, it was very good. Sea was calm in the morning and then also sunny from midday.
Great day! Great people! Great images!
(ER : strange that there are still dead fish above the main vent – we also noticed on Jokes pictures in the middle of the week that a lot of seagulls were flying above the vent area.
The news coming in from the Atlantic Explorer is even more important as Joke has not seen any action in the sea today, which means that the volcano can erupt without a clear visual sign on the outside. Good to know is that seagulls on the vent area are indicating dead fish and thus erupting material and that a stain clearly indicates action which is more than degassing)

Update 28/04 – 22:55 UTC
- 1 additional earthquake today and if not revised , extremely shallow at 1 km. Magnitude 1.0. Time 21:32. Epicenter in El Golfo

Update 28/04 – 13:17 UTC
- 1 earthquake since midnight. A M1.4 magnitude quake at a depth of 15 km on this location
- Julio del Castillo Vivero is on board of the Atlantic Explorer. Luckily for him the sea is calm reports Joke (an Ocean swell is even with calm weather often enough to get seasick!). Let’s hope that Julio will have some nice pictures later today. The ROV will not be used today as the people on board of the ship have a bunch of other tasks. Julio has send the image below from the ship a little earlier. It shows the volcano cone at his present depth. We will have to wait until tonight to find out what the colors really mean.
I a direct message to us, Julio writes : ERUPTION STILL ONGOING

Image made by Julio del Castillo Vivero on board of the Qstar Atlantic Explorer today

Update 28/04
- Joke pictures of today. We have placed the pictures at the bottom of todays report, because we do think that the other information is more important today.

Update 27/04 – 23:57 UTC
- As promised, Joke Volta’s image of April 27

Update 27/04 – 14:57 UTC
- The Atlantic Explorer (Qstar ship) is back in La Restinga. On board scientists of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The ship will be in the Las Calmas sea on Saturday to accomplish more tests. We do not know yet if a ROV would be used.
- Images of Joke Volta will be loaded later today
- Julio del Castillo Vivero, as part his documentary, filmed the entrance in the harbour of the Atlantic Explorer. Enjoy this HD view of the moment!

Update 27/04 – 10:00 UTC
- Joke and Julio went to La Restinga this morning to check up on the volcano situation. No stain or jacuzzi was seen this morning. Photographs will be online later today.
- No earthquakes reported since midnight.
- Julio del Castillo Vivero, the time lapse specialist, went with Joke yesterday to the Movistar webcam point (called by Joke Human Webcam spot) and made a number of pictures every x seconds. He then framed them together to a time lapse of even better quality then the earlier Movistar pictures.

Update 26/04 – 18:10 UTC
- Joke’s images of today April 26. Joke was accompanied today by Julio del Castillo Vivero, who is making a documentary movie on El Hierro and it’s volcanism.

Julio del Castillo Vivero making his documentary movie

Update 26/04 – 13:47 UTC
- 2 earthquakes so far today (the volcano does not want the IGN staff to go home). Involcan and Iter may have booked the volcano for a Surtseyan eruption during their “1^st Anniversary Conference of the 2011-2012 submarine eruption off the coast of El Hierro”
At 09:00, a M1.1 earthquake occurred at a depth of 18 km with epicenter to the SW of El Pinar
At 13:00, a M0.9 earthquake occurred at a depth of 14 km with epicenter to the SW of El Pinar

Update 26/04 – 09:09 UTC – Science will meet @ El Hierro in October
Involcan and ITER will be hosting the “1^st Anniversary Conference of the 2011-2012 submarine eruption off the coast of El Hierro”
The program consists of Scientific and technical discussions mainly related to volcanic risk management on oceanic and active island volcanoes as well as to enhance know-how exchange to understand and improve the multi-disciplinary initiatives for reducing volcanic risk in islands. A special session of this workshop will be related to the 2011-12 submarine eruption off the southern coast of El Hierro and its impact on the island community. The 2012 El Hierro Conference will be also an ideal forum to discuss about the plus side of living in active volcanoes since the short-term hazards posed by volcanoes are strongly balanced by benefits of volcanism over geologic time (volcano tourism, geothermal energy, balneology, etc.).
- The conference will be held at El Pinar Cultural Center which is located at the town of El Pinar. El Hierro offers several hotels and apartments distributed by all the island that allows to welcome the conference participants. Housing facilities close to the Conference Venue are available at La Restinga Village and El Pinar’s downtown. Shuttle bus from La Restinga to the Conference Venue will be provided free of charge by the organization for the conference participants.
- Three scientific excursions are planned : One day intra meeting field trip to visit several major volcanological features of El Hierro Island, One day intra meeting field trip to visit El Hierro submarine volcanic environment and Two-day post-conference field trip on “Canary Islands’ large gravitational landslides and related tsunamis” which will be led by Mercedes Ferrer (IGME), Luis Gonzalez de Vallejo (INVOLCAN), Juan Jesús Coello Bravo (INVOLCAN), José Madeira (University of Lisboa) and Cesar Andrade (University of Lisboa).
- More information on the conference, click here

Update 25/04 – 22:32 UTC
- Late today, but still before midnight Joke’s pictures of April 25. The seemingly volcano picture is just a formation of clouds !

Update 25/04 – 21:32 UTC
- Joke and Julio are reporting a jacuzzi tonight (see picture below) – people who saw it (lasted 30 minutes) have informed Joke on what was going on.
- Joke will send her pictures tomorrow morning

Faint 30 minute jacuzzi during the late afternoon hours of April 25

Update 25/04 – 15:25 UTC
- Time lapse specialist and photographer, Julio del Castillo Vivero is on the island to produce a documentary on El Hierro and especially on the eruption. He has made a script and will have interviews with many people including Joke (of course). Julio is from Madrid and studies in the UK. Our readers know him from the many time lapses he made when the volcano was sending strong activity to the surface waters. Julio was also a vivid commenter on the AVCAN website. Click here to take a glimpse on Julio’s website.
- NO earthquakes since midnight
- Joke’s images will arrive a little later today.

Update 24/04 – 17:25 UTC
- 1 earthquake since midnight. A 1.2 magnitude at a depth of 18 km. The earthquake occurred at 01:20 UTC this morning. Epicenter here.
- Mr. Alpidio Armas has decided to invite (German) journalists and tourism professionals to show them all facets from El Hierro including a Volcanic Experience.

Update 23/04 – 12:32 UTC
- Joke reports a greenish stain carried by the currents in the main vent area
- AVCAN stresses that the activity at El Hierro has decreased considerably but that there are no signs that the pressurization of the island is gone completely
- NO earthquakes since midnight
- Images Joke Volta

Update 22/04 – 17:12 UTC
- Joke’s pictures of the day

Update 22/04 – 11:56 UTC
- Joke reports that the Las Calmas sea has again a stain this morning. Additionally she says that there are stronger wave patterns in the main vent area. Pictures will follow soon.
- According to the local media, Mr. Alpidio Armas is fiercely against maintaining the yellow alert at the volcano vent in the Las Calmas Sea. In other words, Mr. Armas (in the international community better known as Mr. Weapons because of the Google translation) is criticizing the decision of Pevolca (he is a minority part of Pevolca).
We (ER) think this is a highly irresponsible attitude which can also be labeled as denying the sunlight! Every couple of days we have proof that some degassing is continuing and that even faint stains are formed + earthquakes are continuing (even today) stressing that the pressure below the island is not gone completely. What Mr. Armas wants is completely inactive and is no danger anymore, even above the main vent. Since scientists have claimed that the eruption was completely halted, the cone has grown by 2 meters ! In football terms (called soccer in the USA), we think Mr. Armas should receive a red card. Of course for local supporters, he is only saying the truth and he even does not need a yellow card.
One important advise to Mr. Armas : leave volcanism to those who understand what they are talking about : IGN, IEO, ITER and INVOLCAN.

Update 22/04 – 10:05 UTC
- A new earthquake occurred at 08:17 UTC – Magnitude : 1.7 at a depth of 17 km to the SW of El Pinar (direct main vent area)

Read also: Scientific paper reveals massive historic Tenerife volcano flank collapse
Read also: Economic impact on El Hierro and the Canary Islands if an aerial eruption would occur
Read also: The 2011 submarine volcanic eruption in El Hierro (Canary Islands), Spain

Volcano Discussion Panel : If you are a person who wants to discuss and read about all aspects of volcanoes, this discussion panel might be a very good place to hang around. Especially if we start speculating about what to happen next, this panel is a great place to look at. Give it a chance.

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CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST NEWS

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With the collaboration of Joke Volta, an El Hierro resident and Julio del Castillo Vivero, photographer.
Read also : (28/7 – early 09)  – (25/09 – 10/10)  -  (11/10 – 13/10) - (14/10 – 17-10)  -  (18/10 – 21/10)  -  (22/10 – 26/10 ) – (27/10 – 31/10 ) – (01/11 – 03/11 ) - (04/11 – 06/11 ) – (07/11 – 08/11) – (09/11- 11/11)  – (12/11 – 15/11)  – (16/11 – 19/11)  – (20/11 – 23/11) – (24/11 – 27/11) – (28/11 – 02/12) - (03/12 – 07/12) – (08/12 – 11/12) – (12/12 – 15/12) – (16/12 – 18/12) – (19/12 – 25/12) – (26/12 – 31/12) – (01/01 – 03/01) – (04/01 – 07/01) – (08/01 – 13/01) – (14/01 – 19/01) - (20/01 – 25/01) -  (26/01 – 30/01) – (31/01 – 04/02) – (05/02 – 10/02) – (11/02 – 16/02) – (17/02 – 23/02) – (24/02 –29/02) – (1/03 – 10/03) – (11/03 – 18/03) –  (19/03 – 23/03) –  (24/03 – 28/03) - Part 38 (29/03 – 03/04) – Part 39 (04/04 – 10/04) – Part 40 (11/04 – 21/04) – Part 41 (22/04 – 30/04) – Part 42 (01/05 – 10/05)
Useful links : @VolcanoReport – El Hierro Picasa Photo Album

Update 21/04 – 18:29 UTC
- Joke Volta’s images of the day

Update 21/04 – 13:59 UTC
- NO earthquakes so far today.
- Julio del Castillo Vivero just mentioned us a video showing the recovery of the fish at the La Restinga area. The video and pictures combined in the video have been recorded and taken in March 2012 and are contradicting the horror stories of the scientists that all marine life (including vegetation) would have been damaged to a high degree. Enjoy the wonderful submarine world of El Hierro.

Update 20/04 – 12:17 UTC
- Joke Volta’s images of today April 20. Calima (African desert dust fog) has finally gone and the pictures are getting more colorful.

Update 20/04 – 07:50 UTC
- NO listed earthquakes since midnight

Update 19/04 – 23:55 UTC
- A third El Hierro earthquake at 18:59 today. Magnitude 0.7, depth 12 km. Epicenter here.
- We have changed the title a little bit to reflect the current situation. No immediate risk to the island anymore, but still some minor volcanic activity (mainly earthquakes and a little degassing) around the main vent.

Update 19/04 – 15:21 UTC
- It looks like the volcano doesn’t like Pevolca or Mr. Armas !. Almost together with Mr. Armas tweet, the ground was shaking again, a M1.2 earthquake at 13:01 UTC at a depth of 10 km, here

Update 19/04 – 14:09 UTC
- More details have been reported a little later, such as :
* the alert level of the island itself will change from Yellow to Green
* the area surrounding the main vent is downgraded from Red to Yellow (in other words, some limited vigilance remains around the volcano)
* The BIO Las Palmas (Oceanographic vessel), who made some extensive bathymetry last week, measured the depth of the cone at 86 meter.
* Today’s images of Joke Volta

Update 19/04 – 12:09 UTC
- In a short twitter message from the Cabildo de Hierro (office of Mr. Alpidio Armas), the Green Alert of the entire island has been declared by Pevolca. Due to the very slim activity of the last couple of weeks (only faint stains and degassing), the Alert level change seems logical to Earthquake-Report.com

Update 19/04 – 11:03 UTC
- We have noticed one M2.2 earthquake at a depth of 32 km at 08:32 UTC at a very unusual place, which may explain the difference in depth.

Update 18/04 – 21:32 UTC
- ER reader John commented on our remark from this morning that we did not know where CHIE station was exactly. He said : found the location of CHIE it is Latitude 27.72700 Longitude -17.96070 . Information found at http://www.isc.ac.uk/cgi-bin/stations?listr=Canary+Islands:Europe. Thank you John.
- 1 new earthquake at 14:37 UTC at a depth of 1 km (mostly IGN revises these shallow depths which has not been done so far) ! Magnitude : 0.5. Epicenter here

Update 18/04 – 12:12 UTC
- Joke Volta images of today April 18, a “Calima” day (special regional weather type). Joke hasn’t seen anything special today, but nevertheless she continues to make pictures mainly to have a full series of visuals.

Update 18/04 – 10:52 UTC
- 1 earthquake since midnight. Magnitude 1.4 at a depth of 13 km. Epicenter here
- ER reader Leona has commented that it looks that the thickness of the CHIE HT line has increased since more than 24 hours now. We have the same feeling and have therefore increased the line with the same factor today and 4 days ago. Of course this should not mean anything, as it maybe temporary noise or even instrumental error margin. We neither have an idea where CHIE comes from. El Hierro has a lot of different instruments.

Comparison in amplitude of CHIE graph El Hierro

Update 17/04 – 14:40 UTC
- Both the Chile, Valparaiso Mw6.7 earthquake and the Papua New Guinea Mw6.8 earthquake can be seen on the CHIE El Hierro graph.
- Joke Volta images of the day

Update 17/04 – 10:06 UTC
- We have been busy with numerous big shakes all around the globe (Chile, PNG, Kenya). We think that scientist should start to study influences of the Mw8.6 mega-quake on Volcano and Earthquakes in far away locations. What we have written the last 7 days in earthquake-report.com can be called “impressive”. There is however no evidence yet that such a relation would exist.
- NO earthquakes listed by IGN since midnight UTC

Update 16/04 – 17:20 UTC
- Joke saw a brownish color at the Naos bay shortly after the big quake (epicenter of the earthquake and brownish area are not the same though).
- Big event today in La Restinga (besides the strong quakes). A very popular morning show from the National Spanish Radio Network was using the Restingolita Info Center in La Restinga as a temporary studio. A lot of talking with always the same people who have to explain what has happened (scientists wherever in the world (not only in Spain) still think that 30 seconds of glory on network TV or Radio will change their status forever). Sharing information with sites like us (read you), seems to be a lot more difficult.
The whole group of important people cued to appear before the microphone with an imminent role to Mr. Alpidio Armas, the person who doesn’t want to share a webcam with the outside world and does want to make the illusion that what he was asked for today does not exist anymore.

Update 16/04 – 12:42 UTC
- 2 serious earthquakes in a matter of 12 minutes (Thank to ER reader Diana for telling us)
At first a Magnitude 3.1 3.0 earthquake at a depth of 14 15 km to the SW of El Pinar
followed by a second M2.2 earthquake at a depth of 19 km also to the SW of El Pinar

M 3.1 and M2.2 earthquakes graph on April 16, 2012

Update 16/04 – 08:15 UTC
- NO earthquakes since midnight today

Update 15/04 – 23:55 UTC
- At 23:39 an earthquake occurred to the SW of El Pinar at a depth of 11 km. Magnitude : 1.6

Update 15/04 – 18:26 UTC
- Joke’s selection of today’s images.

Update 15/04 – 11:38 UTC
- First pictures of April 15 from Joke Volta. The pictures have been taken from El Pinar, where Joke lives. Joke reports that a stain (blue-green) can well be seen from above. Hard to see on the images however.
- The arrival of jellyfish in the Canary Islands waters has never been so huge since 1994, following CSIC and the Instituto de Ciencias de Mar de Barcelona. Both scientific institutions have not given an explanation for the sudden rise in number.

Update 14/04 – 16:45 UTC
- This time we did it before the remarks of ER reader Colin, who is reading our pages on a satellite internet link (which takes a fair amount of time to load). So, we did create 2 new archive parts (part 38 and part 39). The links to the older parts (March 29 to April 10) can be found at the bottom of this main article.

Update 14/04 – 15:24 UTC
- Joke Volta’s full series of images from today. Every picture carries Joke explanation of what she thinks she is seeing.

Update 14/04 – 11:06 UTC
- At 02:06, a M1.3 earthquake occurred at a depth of 9 km to the south of La Restinga

Update 14/04 – 10:02 UTC
- Joke reported a Green-Blueish stain originating in the main vent area and carried by currents to the coast and even the port of La Restinga. Joke often distinct with her eyes more colors than she can capture on the pictures. This morning she saw “intriguing” foam at a certain part of the stain ending.

Update 13/04 – 23:55 UTC
- A second earthquake was listed today by IGN. A M1.1 earthquake at a depth of 16 km to the SW of El Pinar

Update 13/04 – 20:07 UTC
- Joke made a lot more pictures today than the first batch. On some of them you will see the Salvamar Adhara sailing out and hanging above the volcano vent, on others a faint stain

Update 13/04 – 14:20 UTC
- High visit at La Restinga this morning. Senators (Spanish parliament Madrid) have been informed about the El Hierro eruption. IGN and CSIC scientists have given explanatory sessions on the activity. As promised earlier today, Joke could profit from a few free moments from a senator and asked him to support the call of the International Community to get the webcams back. Whenever this Senator (we know his name) would be able to bring our webcam back, we will print a huge image in this site thanking him for his support to the good cause !

Update 13/04 – 10:34 UTC
- 1 very weak earthquake since midnight : a M0.2 at a depth of 28 km to the SW of Frontera
- First morning pictures from Joke Volta (below the text of Ramon Ortiz)
- Joke had a conversation with Don Domingo Gimeno, a scientist who did research on Restingolitas (SLS) in Barcelona. He was the scientist who explained that the white material at the inside of the SLS consisted of an explosive magmatic material. He was almost instantly countered in his opinion by other scientists saying that the white material was of a sediment type. Don Domingo Gimeno did some research on the Restingolita at the request of the village of El Pinar.
- Spanish senators are currently visiting La Restinga and the Restingolita information center. Joke will try to speak to one or more of them and will ask to reactivate the webcam.
- Joke wrote an Email to chief scientist Ramon Ortiz (advisor IGN, researcher CSIC and sometimes spokesperson in Pevolca on scientific issues) asking him how possibly the Sumatra earthquake could influence the El Hierro eruption effects (a stain was observed after the arrival of the earthquake waves at El Hierro). This is Mr. Ortiz answer :

“Cuando hay un terremoto tan grande como los del dia 11 y 12 (8.6 y 8.2 en Sumatra y 6.9 en Baja California), las ondas sismicas recorren varias veces el planta y al atravesar los sistemas magmaticos producen una liberacion de gas (disfusion rectificada) que en algunos casos puede llegar a disparar un erupcion, aunque en general solo producen mayor emision de gas (similar a cuando se agita una botella de Cava) y por eso aumento la emision de gas en la restinga y aparecio la mancha”

Translation
“When an earthquake as large as those on April 11 and April 12 occur (8.6 and 8.2 in Sumatra and 6.9 in Baja California), seismic waves travel several times through the earth and magmatic systems produce a release of gas (disfusion rectificada) that in some cases can trigger an eruption (…), although in general only produce a greater emission of gas (similar to when you shake a bottle of Cava (Spanish Champagne)) and thus the increase the emission of gas in La Restinga and a stain appeared”

Update 12/04 – 22:40 UTC
- Joke Volta’s afternoon images

Update 12/04 – 20:45 UTC

– The image above is an echogram, done by the IEO Cornide de Saavedra boat between the 5th and 9th of April, showing the volcano realeasing ash and big quantities of CO2.
- Sulphur is not coming out any more, responsible for green stains, same way we don’t see this on Joke Volta’s daily photographs, but what we have seen recently is CO2, which is reflected as a blue concentrated stain and jacuzzi.
- In an area of 500 meters around the summit, the are still some significant changes seen.
- Scientists believed the eruption should have ended already, officially, it did on the 15th of March, but this, again, proves it had not stopped. Putting back online webcams now would be a very good way to follow this stage of the eruption process.
- More information about pH concentrations can be found in this link of Spanish newspaper Qué!

Update 12/04 – 18:47 UTC
Remaining part of Joke Volta’s morning and midday pictures

Update 12/04 – 14:06 UTC
- ETNA (Italy) is currently having a new paroxysm or eruption (thank you Er reader Roland for informing us). Click here for our Volcano News page with links to the best webcams. Julio del Castillo Vivero made a time lapse of today’s Etna eruption. Enjoy the beauty of nature.

Update 12/04 – 09:22 UTC
- Joke reports that a stain has been seen in the Las Calmas sea. She is talking about a short reactivation of the volcano yesterday afternoon. Joke says that the stain was confirmed by the IGN people. In a first reaction Roman Ortiz has related the stain to the Sumatra earthquake …
- From our side, following with large in-depth articles on every world quake, we are stressing that the increase of the amplitudes in the CHIE graph are all of them related to very strong to massive earthquakes in different parts of the world. (Mexico x3 + Sumatra). Scientists do not agree on a direct relation in between earthquakes (even very powerful earthquakes) and volcano activity.
- A ship is currently executing a bathymetry mission in front of the La Restinga coast. Julio del Castillo Vivero reports that it will be probably the Oceanographic ship Las Palmas (A52)

Update 11/04 – 17:30 UTC
- ER reader Nataly told us about a strong signal on many seismographs at the Canary islands. The CHIE graph below is also indicating it. These are the 2 massive earthquakes in Indonesia who are picked up by all seismographs in the world. The difference in time between the occurence of the earthquake and the time which is shown on the CHIE graph is the travel time of the earthquake wave !

Update 11/04 – 15:57 UTC
- As you probably all would understand is that we had a very hard time reporting the M8.6 Sumatra Indonesia earthquake. Since midnight earthquake-report.com was consulted by more than 70,000 unique visitors, probably breaking a new record. The server was down many times (he was not down but went into safety modus) as he was saturated by too many visitors.

Update 11/04 – 15:50 UTC
- Morning images Joke Volta

Update 11/04 – 08:28 UTC
- 1 Magnitude 1.1 earthquake at a depth of 20 km to the SW of El Pinar (approx. 10 km from La Restinga !)
- An AVCAN commenter mentioned a link to a very interesting document on Volcano lave tubes speleology at El Hierro. Click here to consult the document, but in case you are going to use it, please be careful !
- A group of Senators from the Spanish parliament (1 per fraction) will make an incentive tour to El Hierro, next Thursday. If weather and conditions are allowing it, the visiting group may make a boat tour to the volcano vent. Senators and a volcano, an explosive cocktail ?

Links to earlier parts of this extensive El Hierro eruption report :
(28/7 – early 09) – (25/09 – 10/10) - (11/10 – 13/10) - (14/10 – 17-10) – (18/10 – 21/10) - (22/10 – 26/10 ) – (27/10 – 31/10 ) – (01/11 – 03/11 ) – (04/11 – 06/11 ) – (07/11 – 08/11) – (09/11- 11/11) – (12/11 – 15/11) – (16/11 – 19/11) – (20/11 – 23/11) – (24/11 – 27/11) – (28/11 – 02/12) - (03/12 – 07/12) – (08/12 – 11/12) – (12/12 – 15/12) – (16/12 – 18/12) – (19/12 – 25/12) – (26/12 – 31/12) – (01/01 – 03/01) – (04/01 – 07/01) – (08/01 – 13/01) – (14/01 – 19/01) - (20/01 – 25/01) – (26/01 – 30/01) – (31/01 – 04/02) – (05/02 – 10/02) – (11/02 – 16/02) – (17/02 – 23/02) – (24/02 –29/02) – (1/03 – 10/03) – (11/03 – 18/03) – (19/03 – 23/03) – (24/03 – 28/03) – Part 38 (29/03 – 03/04) – Part 39 (04/04 – 10/04)

Read also: Scientific paper reveals massive historic Tenerife volcano flank collapse
Read also: Economic impact on El Hierro and the Canary Islands if an aerial eruption would occur
Read also: The 2011 submarine volcanic eruption in El Hierro (Canary Islands), Spain

Volcano Discussion Panel : If you are a person who wants to discuss and read about all aspects of volcanoes, this discussion panel might be a very good place to hang around. Especially if we start speculating about what to happen next, this panel is a great place to look at. Give it a chance.

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Dr. Juan Carlos Carracedo Gómez - ULPGC

Forty years after the Teneguía Volcano (La Palma, 1971), a submarine eruption took place off the town of La Restinga, south of El Hierro, the smallest and youngest island of the Canarian Archipelago. Precursors allowed an early detection of the event and its approximate location, suggesting it was submarine. Uncertainties derived from insufficient scientific information available to the authorities during the eruption, leading to disproportionate civil protection measures, which had an impact on the island’s economy based primarily on tourism, while residents experienced extra fear and distress.

El Hierro, 1.12 million years old, is the youngest of the Canary Islands. Located at the western end of the archipelago together with the neighboring island of La Palma, El Hierro rests on a ca. 3500 m-deep ocean bed.
The principal configuration of El Hierro is controlled by a three-armed rift zone system that gives rise to three ridges that extend from the center of the island in a characteristic ‘Mercedes star’ geometry (Carracedo, 1994), and host the larger part of El Hierro’s subaerial eruptions (Fig. 1A).
This triple-armed shape of El Hierro is further enhanced by the scars of several massive gravitational landslides that truncate all three flanks. The collapse of the north flank, that formed the spectacular El Golfo bay with an almost vertical 1400 m-high escarpment, is the youngest landslide of the entire Canary Archipelago with an age of less than 100 ka. Rift zones, however, also continue underneath the sea surface. The south rift stretches as a submarine ridge for more than 40 km (Fig. 1B), indicating that recent submarine eruptions have occurred there as well.

Fig. 1. A. Geological map of El Hierro (from Carracedo et al., 2001). B. colour shaded relief image of El Hierro viewed from above (from Masson et al., 2002). The subaerial and submarine parts of the South rift are indicated.

During the German research cruise Meteor 43/1 in 1998, lava samples were dredged from the submarine prolongations of the southern rift zones of La Palma and El Hierro. El Hierro samples taken close to the present eruptive site (<3 km distant) included fresh picrites and alkali-basalts and variably altered lapillistones and hyaloclastites. Further dredging along the submarine north-west and north-east rift zones during the Poseidon 270 cruise in 2001 recovered fresh alkali basalts from 21 young volcanic cones at depths of 800 to 2300 m together with ocean bottom sediments having a strong volcaniclastic component.
It appears overall that the density of seemingly young volcanoes on El Hierro’s submarine rifts is comparable to that on land, emphasizing the relevance of submarine eruptions during the growth of oceanic islands.

Precursors to the 2011 eruption

Numerous earthquakes were recorded by the Spanish Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) from July 2011 onwards, the greater part of them insignificant from a hazard point of view, but were clearly precursors of a volcanic eruption. In particular, seismicity, initially of low magnitude (M < 3.0) and focused north of the island, increased while migrating southward. The greater part of the hypocentres were initially concentrated within the lower oceanic crust (Fig. 2), at depths of 8–14 km (ca. 200–400 MPa pressure), which is in agreement with pressure estimates from microscopic fluid inclusions in xenoliths from north-western El Hierro and phenocrysts from a recent eruption. The seismic and petrological data are thus in-line with a scenario of a magma batch becoming trapped as an intrusion horizon, near the base or within the subisland oceanic crust. Shifting seismic foci suggest that magma progressively accumulated and expanded laterally in a southward direction, causing a vertical surface deformation of about 40 mm at that time.
During this initial phase, the system remained active but showed no sign of having overcome the resistance of the oceanic crust. Hypocenters thereafter migrated south-east, approaching the submarine prolongation of the active South rift zone. From there, the magma progressed rapidly towards the surface, as indicated by the first time occurrence of shallow (< 3 km) earthquakes on 9 October 2011.
The scenario changed dramatically at about 4 am on 10 October, when the now frequent and strong seismicity (up to M 4.4) ceased and was rather abruptly replaced by a continuous harmonic tremor, indicating the opening of a vent and thus the onset of a submarine eruption.

Fig. 2. Seismic hypocentres beneath El Hierro between 19 July and 10 October 2011. Hypocentres migrated from North towards the South rift zone of the island, where they became shallower (< 3 km). The eruption commenced on 10 October. Most of the time, seismicity remained stable at the base of the oceanic crust (data from IGN, http://www.ign.es/ign/resources/ volcanologia/ html/eventosHierro. html)

The submarine eruption

On October 10, patches of pale-colored water that smelled of sulfur and were associated with dead fish, were found floating one mile south of the coast confirming the opening of a vent on the flank of the submarine part of the South rift zone. The surface expression of this eruption, including green and bright discoloration of seawater, was clearly observed in high-resolution satellite images featuring a large stain (locally known as ‘la mancha’) visible on the surface of the Las Calmas Sea (Fig. 3A). The eruption formed a NE–SW trending fissure outlined by strong bubbling and degassing (Fig. 3B), occasionally 10–15 m high, loaded with juvenile volcanic ash and pyroclasts (Fig. 3C).
However, information on the depth and precise location of the submarine vent was lacking in the first two weeks of the eruption because of the unavailability of adequate means for submarine surveying.
On October 24, the RV Ramón Margalef of the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO) carried out the first survey of the area, previously mapped in 1998 by the Spanish RV Hespérides (Fig. 4A). Comparison of present and 1998 bathymetry outlined a 700 m-wide, 100 m-high new volcanic cone resting at about 350 m depth in a canyon on the flank of the South Rift submarine extension (Fig. 4B). On 4 December 2011, the eruption apparently waning, the RV Ramón Margalef carried out another campaign, detecting significant growth of the volcanic edifice. The initial single eruptive center (Fig. 4A,B) had now evolved to three cones of similar height, with their summit 180–160 m below the sea surface (Fig. 4D), still below the critical value to generate significant surtseyan explosions (about 100 m below sea level).
Lava flows and pyroclasts, confined by the canyon walls, caused the greater part of the erupted volume to flow downslope towards deeper parts of the ocean floor.

Fig. 3. A. Plume of dissolved magmatic gases and suspended matter producing green and bright discolouration of seawater (locally known as ‘la mancha’) commencing on 10 October 2011 and continuing for several kilometres to the south-west before drifting off into the Atlantic (Satellite image by RapidEye). Fig. 3. B. Plumes of gas on ocean surface showing a N–S trend, indicating a submarine eruptive fissure. Inset: Expansion of steam with decreasing water depth (modified from Schmincke, 2004). C, strong degassing with abundant rock fragments generated large ‘bubbles’, some of them 10–15 m-high, bursting to the surface off the nearby village of La Restinga (8 November 2011).

Fig. 4. A. DEM showing the pre-eruptive submarine canyon where the 2011 eruption nested (image taken from the RV Hespérides, 1998). B. DEM of the same area taken on 24 October by the RV Ramon Margalef after the onset of underwater activity. C. Geological map of the submarine eruption from the first DEM obtained on 24 October 2011 by the RV Ramon Margalef. D. Geological map of the same area on 4 December 2011.

Floating stones off El Hierro

Abundant rock fragments resembling lava bombs on a decimeter scale (Fig. 5) and characterized by glassy basaltic crusts and white to cream-colored interiors, were found floating on the ocean surface during the first days of the eruption. The interiors of these floating rocks are glassy and vesicular (similar to pumice), with frequent mingling between the pumicelike interior and the enveloping basaltic magma (Fig. 5B). These floating rocks have become known locally as ‘restingolites’ after the nearby village of La Restinga. Their nature and origin remained elusive at first, with suggestions from the scientific community including: (1) the floating bombs are juvenile and potentially explosive high-silica magma; (2) they are fragments of marine sediment from the submarine flank of El Hierro; and (3) that they are relatively old, hydrated volcanic material. However, none of these interpretations provides a satisfying fit to the available observation since for instance, high-silica volcanism is uncommon on El Hierro, and magmatic minerals (either grown in magma or as detritus from erosion) are entirely absent in the ‘restingolites’. Given that the involvement of highly evolved, high-silica magmatism would have implications for the explosive potential of the eruption, it was important to clarify the nature of the ‘restingolites’ swiftly in order to fully assess the hazards associated with the ongoing El Hierro eruption. Furthermore, should the ‘restingolites’ be shown not to originate from high-silica magma, then unraveling their genesis will most likely provide unique insights into the volcano–magma system beneath El Hierro.
All ‘restingolite’ samples are glassy and light in color and most are macroscopically crystal-free. However, occasional quartz crystals, jasper fragments, gypsum aggregates and carbonate relicts have been identified in hand specimens. X-Ray diffractograms mainly indicate the presence of quartz, mica and/or illite, and glass. There is a notable absence of primary igneous minerals from the XRD data. Microscopic quartz crystals have also been identified and analysed using a field emission electron probe micro-analyser (FE-EPMA), as well as the composition of the glass matrix, which ranges between ~65 and 90 per cent SiO2.
The high silica content coupled with overall low incompatible trace element concentrations, the occurrence of mm-sized relict quartz crystals and the lack of igneous minerals, plus the occurrence of carbonate, clay, jasper and gypsum relicts are all  ncompatible with a purely igneous origin for the cores of the floating stones. Igneous rocks on El Hierro do not contain any free (primary) quartz crystals (nor do igneous rocks on any of the other Canary Islands).
A potential source of the quartz crystals found in the floating rocks from El Hierro is likely to be the sediments of layer 1 of the pre-island ocean crust. These contain quartz crystals transported from Africa by both wind and turbidity currents and are characterized by a lack of igneous minerals due to their pre-island age.

Fig. 5. A. ‘floating rocks’ observed in October 2011 off El Hierro. B. ‘restingolite’ sample displaying typical features, such as a crust of basalt, primary sedimentary bedding, folding, high vesicularity, and mingling structures. C. hollow basaltic bomb of the late stages of the eruption. D. similar bomb from the Serreta Oceanic Volcano, Terceira, Azores (photograph by Ulrich Küppers).

The floating rocks found at El Hierro are thus most probably the products of magma–sediment interaction beneath the volcano (Fig. 6). Ascending magma mixes with the pre-volcanic sediments and the ‘restingolites’ were carried to the ocean floor during eruption while being melted and vesiculated during transport in magma. Once erupted onto the ocean floor, some of them were able to separate from the erupting lava and floated to the sea surface due to their low density (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Sketch showing the structure of El Hierro Island and the 2011 events. Ascending magma that, according to the distribution of seismic events prior to eruption, moved sub-horizontally from north to south in the oceanic crust, is interacting with the pre-volcanic sedimentary rocks. The floating rocks found at El Hierro during the early days of the eruption are the products of magma– sediment interaction beneath the volcano. These ‘restingolites’ were carried to the ocean floor during eruption and melted and vesiculated while immersed in magma. Once erupted onto the ocean floor, they separated from the erupting lava and floated on the sea surface due to their high vesicularity and low density (from Troll et al., 2011).

Management of the eruption

A dramatic account entitled ‘How not to handle a volcanic eruption’, was published on 31 October 2011, in one of the most influential newspapers in Spain, El Pais. The article discussed the response to the eruption: ‘Since July 19, residents of the Canary island of El Hierro have been preparing for a possible eruption of a volcano a few kilometres out at sea. Scientists headed to the area, the regional government of the Canary Islands put in place preparations for a possible sea and air evacuation, and the Spanish military moved in. Measures taken to protect El Hierro’s population (11 000), however, have been criticized by the residents as more disruptive than the volcano itself. Many residents are now wondering whether the authorities had any real idea of what was going on with the volcano, and whether there was any real danger to human life’ (http://www.elpais.com/ rticulo/english/How/not/to/handle/volcanic/eruption/elpepueng/20111031elpeng_4/Ten).

Management and civil protection decisions before and during the eruption were the responsibility of the Directorate of the Civil Protection Special Planning and Emergency Response Organisation to Volcanic Risk in the Canary Islands (PEVOLCA). The handling of the eruption by this committee, set up by the Canarian Government only a year before, suggests a lack of experience on PEVOLCA’s part and hence a considerable degree of improvisation. Repeated evacuations of La Restinga (600 residents), seemingly random closure and reopening of a section of the island’s main road as it passes through a tunnel (earthquake risk), and the two-week delay in sending a survey vessel are, among others, the main causes of frustration felt by the local population (see Fig. 7). Due to these uncertainties the island’s economy, based primarily on tourism, collapsed temporarily and residents experienced extra fear and distress.
The overall relatively low magnitude seismicity (the greater part of magnitudes < M 3.0), and the comparatively small and deep (> 150 m) basaltic submarine eruption seems thus to have caused surprisingly greater distress and economic loss than a similar magnitude eruption on land in 1971 (Teneguía Volcano, La Palma). This eruption was managed 40 years ago without disturbing the population to the same extent or causing economic hardship.

Fig. 7. Scientific information available during the 2011 submarine eruption in El Hierro and civil protection measures taken.

One explanation is that, in contrast to the 1971 Teneguía eruption, during the 2011 eruption accurate scientific information was not available at decisive points to dispel uncertainties and provide appropriate criteria to manage the situation (Fig. 7). The plan for volcanic emergencies by PEVOLCA tasks the National Geographic Institute (IGN) with managing the scientific aspects. IGN geophysicists analyzed and interpreted correctly the seismic precursors, allowing early detection of the time and approximate location of the eruption, and predicting it to be submarine. However, at the onset of the eruption a small group of scientists took charge to the exclusion of others, ignoring independent observations and data. Thus, objective scientific advice to enable the authorities to make the correct decisions at crucial points in time was not forthcoming.
This is best illustrated by the failure to anticipate the need for a survey vessel that could provide detailed information about the eruptive activity occurring under the sea. The first evacuation of La Restinga shortly after the onset of the eruption was probably ordered because the authorities had insufficient information about the distance and depth of the submarine vent, and were thus fearing the onset of explosive (surtseyan) activity.
Once the IEO vessel arrived the depth and main features of the submarine volcano were determined.
However, a lack of coordination between the scientific committee and the oceanographic research vessel resulted once more in incomplete information about the progress of the eruption and the proximity of the submarine vent to the surface. Strong bubbling and degassing, and abundant rock fragments resembling lava bombs found floating on the ocean surface on 5 November 2011 prompted the authorities to order the second evacuation of La Restinga (see Fig. 7), due to uncertainties regarding the involvement of  ‘explosive’ high silica magma (the ‘restingolites’). A report by non-PEVOLCA scientists—involving chemical analyses of quartz crystals, which concluded these to be sediments—was ignored. A survey carried out by the vessel a week later found that the submarine cone had meanwhile collapsed and was now about 200 m below the ocean surface.
Civil protection measures taken in this 2011 submarine eruption in El Hierro (that posed little danger to human life) seem disproportionate and likely resulted from the lack of adequate scientific information.
This stresses the need to analyze such events to carefully, in order to improve the use of the scientific and human resources available during future events.
What would the outcome be if a volcanic eruption, instead of taking place off the small island of El Hierro, occurred in the densely populated islands of Tenerife or Gran Canaria?

Acknowledgements
This reconstruction of the 2011 submarine eruption in El Hierro, Canary Islands, is based in geophysical data obtained by the Spanish Geographic (IGN) and Oceanographic (IEO) Institutes. Carmen López and María José Blanco (IGN) provided valuable data and
information.

Suggestions for further reading
- Carracedo, J.C. 1994, The Canary Islands: an example of structural control on the growth of large oceanic-island volcanos. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v.60, pp. 225–241.
- Carracedo J.C., Day, S.J. & Guillou, H. et al. 1997. Giant Quaternary landslides in the evolution of La Palma and El Hierro, Canary Islands. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v.94, pp.169–190.
- Carracedo, J.C., Rodríguez Badiola, E., Guillou, S., de La Nuez H.J. & Pérez Torrado, F.J. 2001. Geology and Volcanology of the Western Canaries: La Palma and El Hierro. Estudios Geológicos v.57, pp.171–295.
- Coello, J.J., 2011. Sobre el origen de la ’restingolita’, Actualidad Volcanica de Canarias- Noticias, 10 Octobre 2011, http://www.avcan.org/?m=Noticias& a=noticia&N=911.
- Gee MJR; Masson DG; Watts AB; et al., 2001. Offshore continuation of volcanic rift zones, El Hierro, Canary Islands. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v.105, pp.107–119.
- Gee, M.J.R., Masson, D.G., Watts, A.B. & Allen, P.A. 1999. The Saharan debris flow: an insight into the mechanism of long runout submarine debris flows, Sedimentology, v.46, pp.317–325.
- Gimeno, D., 2011. Informe realizado para el Ayuntamiento de El Pinar, El Hierro, Islas Canarias, sobre un piroclasto de la erupcíon en curso. Unpublished internal report, 10 October 2011.
- Guillou, H., Carracedo, J.C., Pérez Torrado, F. & Rodríguez Badiola, E. 1996. K-Ar ages and magnetic stratigraphy of a hotspot-induced, fast grown oceanic island: El Hierro, Canary Islands. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v.73, pp.141–
155.
- Hansteen, T.H., Klügel, A. & Schmincke, H. 1998. Multi-stage magma ascent beneath the Canary Islands: evidence from fluid inclusions. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v.132, pp.48–64.
- Hansteen, T.H. & Troll, V.R. 2003. Oxygen isotope composition of xenoliths from the oceanic crust and volcanic edifice beneath Gran Canaria (Canary Islands): consequences for crustalcontamination of ascending magmas. Chemical Geology, v.193, pp.181–193.
- IGN 2011. Instituto Geografico Nacional, Ministerio de Fomento, Servicio de Informacion Sismica http://www.ign.es/ign/resources/volcanologia/
HIERRO.html.
- Longpré, M.A., Chadwick, J.P., Wijbrans, J. & Iping, R. 2011. Age of the El Golfo debris avalanche, El Hierro (Canary Islands): New constraints from laser and furnace 40Ar/39Ar dating. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v.203, pp.76–80.
- Masson, D.G., Watts, A.B., Gee, M.J.R., Urgeles, R., Mitchell, N.C., Le Bas, T.P. & Canals, M. 2002. Slope failures on the flanks of the western Canary Islands. Earth-Science Reviews, v.57, pp.1–35.
- Münn, S., Walter, T.R. & Klügel, A. 2006. Gravitational spreading controls rift zones and flank instability on El Hierro, Canary Islands. Geological Magazine, v.143, pp. 257–268.
- Pérez-Torrado, F. J., Rodríguez-González, A., Carracedo, J. C., Fernández-Turiel, J. L., Guillou, H., Hansen, A. & Rodríguez Badiola, E. 2011. Edades C-14 Del Rift ONO de El Hierro (Islas Canarias). Resúmenes XIII Reunión Nacional de Cuaternario, Andorra, pp.101–104.
- Schmincke, H.-U. 2004. Volcanism. Springer, Berlin, 324pp.
- Schmincke, H.-U. & Graf, G. 2000. DECOS/OMEX II, Cruise No. 43, METEOR-Berichte 20001, University Hamburg, pp.1–99.
- Stroncik, N. A., Klüegel, A. & Hansteen, T.H. 2009. The magmatic plumbing system beneath El Hierro (Canary Islands): constraints from phenocrysts and naturally quenched basaltic glasses in submarine rocks. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology v.157, pp.593–607.
- Troll,V. R., Klügel, A., Longpré, M.-A., Burchardt, S., Deegan, F. M., Carracedo, J. C., Wiesmaier, S., Kueppers, U., Dahren, B., Blythe, L. S., Hansteen, T. , Freda, C., D. Budd, A., Jolis, E. M., Jonsson, E., Meade, F.,Berg, S., Mancini, L. & Polacci, M. 2011. Floating sandstones off El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain): the peculiar case of the October 2011 eruption. Solid Earth Discussion, v.3, pp.975–999.
- Urgeles, R., Canals, M., Baraza, J., et al. 1997. The most recent megalandslides of the Canary Islands: El Golfo debris avalanche and Canary debris flow, west El Hierro island. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth v.102, pp.20305–20323.

This document has been written by : Juan Carlos Carracedo, Francisco Pérez Torrado and Alejandro Rodríguez
González (Grupo de Investigación GEOVOL, Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain), Vicente Soler (Estación Volcanológica de Canarias, IPNA-CSIC, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), José Luis Fernández Turiel (Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain), Valentin R. Troll (Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden) & Sebastian Wiesmaier (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany)

Authorized to be published at earthquake-report.com by Mr. Carracedo J.C.

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Important Update May 18 – 23:46 UTC :
USGS has updated the Magnitude of the earthquake from Mw4.3 to Mw4.8.
Such updates are very normal as scientists are recalculating all facets of the earthquake after setting a preliminary Magnitude. The new strength resembles more  the many I Have Felt reports that we received.  The depth of the hypocenter (breaking point) was changed from the initial value of 3.1 miles to 3 miles. This new Magnitude makes this earthquake one of the strongest of the last couple of years in the continental part of the USA.

Update 23:46 UTC : Fracking is again the talk of the town and is considered by many as the main cause of this quake. The fracking picture is unclear. In a discussion earlier in this site, a specialist told ER that Texas is not injecting the wastewater back in the underground as is done in some other states.  Wastewater injection is seen as a major activity trigger. Even USGS is talking with a double tongue about the subject. Maybe, maybe …  The area had also some historic quakes in a time fracking did not exist yet. The discussion will certainly go on.

Update 14:23 UTC :  A lot of people are very concerned that an even bigger earthquake may be striking the area. First of all we have to say that aftershocks which are stronger than the initial mainshock are only happening now and then. The vast majority of aftershocks are less powerful than the mainshock and are gradually getting weaker. Although very rare, it can not be excluded neither, as today’s aftershock is showing.  Aftershocks may also be expected in this case.

Update 14:14 UTC :  news-journal.com (PanolaWatchman.com) writes that Shelby County Sheriff’s dispatcher Jacob Allen said the only injury report received so far was an elderly woman who fell out of her bed and cut her arm. Allen said the quake caused broken windows and fallen dishes, but no major damage had been reported. In a resident house, the chimney collapsed partly, throwing the chimney bricks into the living room and thus damaging some furniture.

Update 14:13 UTC :  Following the Texas State Historical Association, earthquakes were reported in Rusk in 1891, Center in 1981, and Jacksonville in 1981. In other words, they are extremely rare in this area of the country.

Update 14:10 UTC:  The home security camera inside a Texas house (location unknown) shows the kind of shaking that was experienced. Based on this footage, we believe that it must have been not too far from the epicenter. Although the origin of the video cannot be traced, earthquake-report.com has no reason to believe that this was a setup.

Update 09:31 UTC : Earthquake-Report.com does thank the Texas people for sharing their experience with the rest of the world (especially with their fellow Texans).  I Have Felt it descriptions are still the best Earthquake value to be found. Magnitudes and Focal depths are of course important, but every earthquake (even with the same values) will be felt differently all over the world.

Videos from a TV Station with relevant footage
Phone interview with a Timpson inhabitant who had some damage in his house
Footage from a TV station with a reporter commenting showing also minor damage

Update 09:28 UTC :  On May 10, we had a surprisingly “more than normal” number of earthquakes in unusual areas. It all started in Timpson, Texas with later during the day moderate quakes in Indiana and Oklahoma! We are of course very curious to see if a similar occurrence will be the case today. Normally, we do not expect it to happen again.

Shaking map courtesy USGS - Greenish area is the Moderate shaking area

Update 09:14 UTC :  Last earthquake gave only few moderate aftershocks, which hopefully will be the same today.

Update 09:09 UTC :  Timpson and Tenaha are the towns where a Moderate shaking will have been experienced.  Center, Carthage, Logansport, Nacagdoches, San Augustine, Tatum and Henderson will have experienced a (theoretical) light shaking. The area beyond this radius a weak to very weak shaking. These theoretical scenarios are based on the earthquake parameters in combination with the Felt intensity of historic earthquakes.

Update 09:07 UTC :  Today’s earthquake happened in the middle of the night (03:12 local time), which is always a very scary experience for the people living close to the epicenter. A very shallow hypocenter adds to this experience.

Update 08:56 UTC :  EMSC (European seismological agency) reports an initial M4.6 at a depth of 2 km. As you can imagine, we prefer the USGS data as most accurate in this case as USGS has a lot of equipment all over the territory.

Update 08:53 UTC :  Based on theoretical estimates, 14,000 people will have experienced a moderate shaking and 143,000 people a light shaking. At Earthquake-Report.com, we can confirm these intensity expectations (based on the felt reports we have received).

Same epicenter area than the May 10 earthquake which was (only) M3.9.  Only 6 km from Simpson, TX
The Experience report we received minutes after this aftershock, was right in stating that it felt stronger then the initial one. Serious damages are not to be expected, at max. a few cracks in walls and objects who are falling from shelves etc.

Earthquake May 10 – M3.9
This is what we wrote on the May 10 earthquake : Moderate earthquake below Timpson, Texas
” I was sitting at the computer when the entire house shook. I thought someone had ran into the house.” said Caroline Davis from Timpson.  The earthquake was initially reported as a M3.9 earthquake and later decreased to a M3.7 at a very shallow depth of 5 km. Some local media are reporting the epicenter just South East of Garrison, although USGS  maps the epicenter clearly below Timpson. Based on the Magnitude and the kind of shaking Caroline Davis has felt, we think the present location below Timpson is right. Defining the exact epicenter of an earthquake is always very difficult. It needs complex computing and an error margin is always included in the reporting of the seismological agencies. In this case the Horizontal error margin is  10.4 miles and the vertical 1.9 miles.
The max. shaking intensity as reported by people who have felt it was MMI IV (light shaking) to V (moderate shaking), enough to be scared seriously if you feel it.
The earthquake was felt well in a radius of 15 to 20 miles around the epicenter. Felt by few people in a radius up to 75 miles.
Some people reported a shaking of ca 10 seconds.
No damage or injuries have been reported so far. Earthquake-Report.com, following earthquakes worldwide every day of the year, expects NO damage or injuries from this earthquake. Fallen objects are always a possibility though.
Update : According to a meteorologist at the NWC, no damage has been reported in the area.  He said he did not know how an earthquake could have hit the area, as there are no significant fault lines.
Update : A resident from Garrison county said the earthquake caused cracks on bricks at his house.

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 4.3
UTC Time :   Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 08:12:01 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 03:12:01 AM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) :  5 km (3.1 miles)
Geo-location(s) :
Very close to Timpson, Texas
45 km (27 miles) NE of Nacogdoches, Texas

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SRC	Location	UTC Date/time	M	D	INFORMATION
USGS	Eastern Texas	May 17 08:12 AM	4.3	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
Timpson, Tx 75975 - A few minutes ago the house started shaking, glass started falling off the shelves, it moved our outdoor storage shed off one of its blocks, and the freezer that was on the back porch. This earthqauke was larger and lasted longer than the earthquake on May 10th. Caroline Davis Gladewater - Felt the chair and the desk I'm sitting at start to shake mildly. Center tx - Woke to hotel shaking Timpson - Was asleep and awakened by rumbling at 3 am 5/17 Irving, Tx - Felt this a few minutes ago on the third story of a building. Researched a noticed this occured in East Texas. Alto, TX - I was sitting in my trailer house reading Facebook, and felt everything start shaking as if a man were outside rocking the trailer back and forth. Nothing moved inside except the cords to my mini-blinds, which swung back and forth. Texas - After further inspection here at our home at 2336 FM 1970 N, we have broken glass in the kitchen, broken flower pots on the front porch, terrible, just terrible. Caroline Davis Nacogdoches, Tx - Aproximately 3:03 am this morning I was wakened by by bed shaking along w other objects. My mother called at 3:25 am from Garrison,Tx, it also woke her. Very strange... Gilmer, Tx - i was sitting on the bed and felt it shae and heard the rumbleing Gilmer, Tx - Light shaking reported Longview, TX - I wasn't even sure what it was at first. It was more like a swaying motion than shaking. It was similar to the dizzy feeling you can get when you stand up too fast. I didn't realize the ground was actually moving until I saw the water on my desk vibrating. Irving tx - I was on the 3rd story of a building and a co-worker grabbed me and said "This is the end" and tried to embrace me. It could have been the end so why not???? Lake Murvaul, Tx - Woke us up. House shook for about 10 seconds. Heard slight rumble, CooCoo clock stopped ticking at 3:15 AM Hanging decor on windows swayed on windows Longview, TX - At 3:03am I felt the couch I was sitting on start to shake and I could hear the door knocker clicking on the door form the shaking. I live in a 2 story apartment building on the top floor. Noonday Tx - Felt like a truck hit the house. House and bed shook a few seconds. Living room swinging doors opened. Going back to bed. Shreveport, La - I felt dizzy,while watching computer screen and noticed the water in my water bottle shaking, looked up and saw the light fixture swaying back and forth. Texas - i was lying in bed and drinking my beer and i felt my bed rolling for about a min. Timpson texas - Very scary feeling when u just wake up to the walls and windows shaking and feels like its about the end... And u see the kids running and screaming smh..... Thank u lord for keeping us safe Longview, Texas - I was in my bed and it felt like it was rolling for about a min San Augustine, Texas - Felt like someone was outside trailer shaking the house back and forth. Couldn't focus on computer screen. Pretty scary. Didn't know what was going on Gilmer Texas - was sitting on bed watching T.V. when bed felt as if someone was shaking it, went to see if my son had been in kitchen he said he felt the same thing happening to his bed, very scary first time i have felt an earthquake. Mount Enterprise - My bed shook enough to make me get up and start checking to see what had happened. Mt. Enterprise, tx - 3:12 am felt very clearly. Strong enough to wake us up. Lasted few long seconds. Lufkin, TX - I was at work and sitting in front of my computer and the monitor shook and a vase of flowers nearby shook also. I felt the shaking while I was in my rolling chair. Another co-worker also felt this. This was at 02:30am on 5/17/2012 3miles E. Cushing - Was awake sitting in recliner... felt like light shaking on back of my chair - noticed 3 hanging pots over fireplace swaying in the same left to right motion. Hubby woke up - felt to him like I was "shaking him awake feeling" but no one there shaking him & he continued to feel quakes after realized it wasn't me. Woods Community north of Tenaha TX - We woke up with a light shaking about 3:08 am. Dozed back off and was woke up with the bed shaking north to south enought to cause alarm! Things fell off the wall. Have not checked outside yet. Our animals were extremely shook up!! Nacogdoches Texas - I was asleep and thought it was a dream. Nacogdoches Texas - Moderate shaking reported 2 mi. S. of Timpson, Tx off FM415 - Woke in darkness just past 3am to shaking,rumbling,& sounds of glass & other things tinkling,falling off shelves,& breaking(I collect oil lamps). Inspection found some lamps shattered,cabinets opened,various things broken & whole on floors. Lasted about as long as May 10th, but stronger(I didn't lose anything then). Really NOT expecting this-was unprepared. Chickens made lots of noise! :) Located off FM415 about 2 mi S of Timpson as crow flies. 6am just felt small aftershock. -CS Carthage - The whole house was shaking and the house cracking. Hallsville,tx - I was watching a movie and it was close to 3:30 am because the movie ended at that time and it felt like someone ran behind my couch hitting it and I heard the house creak. It scared me enough that I jumped up looking for someone. 10 miles west of Timpson Tx (Concord/Cal - Was awakened a little after 3am. I initially thought the wind was blowing the house. Lots of creaking noises and swaying. Seemed to last about 10 seconds? Center,Texas - Whole home shook Gary, TX - I awoke abruptly at 0310, no shaking at that time. The house suddenly felt like it was being hit as if someone were attempting to ram in the door. Lasted approx five seconds. Dallas, Texas - Sitting in my car on lunch break noted a quick forceful jolt shaking my car lasted less than a few seconds. 2 miles west of timpson - bed shaking house shaking at 3:00 am.a glass fell off the window sill in kitchen Concord, TX - Woke up to bed and house shaking & ratteling. Heard rumbling. After it stopped I could still feel trembling for 15-30 seconds. When you are woke up at 3 AM to that you can't help but think about the end of time. Joaquin, Texas - I woke up this morning to the whole house shaking and I didn't know what was going on...on my way to work this morning my sister-in-law texted me (they live between Timpson and Garrison) and asked if I felt the quake. She said everything was knocked off their walls, things spilled out of cabinets, lots of stuff broken, and four cracks in their walls. When I got to school this morning (in Timpson) things were knocked off my classroom walls and were on the floor. This one was bigger than last t longview, tx - Woke up between 3 and 4 this morning and sounded like furniture moving around in attic with lots of creaking thinking it was high winds outside, but attic normally doesn't sound like that with winds. Garrison - Very heavy shaking. Knocked several things off the walls all through the house. CR 290, Garrison, TX - Heard a booming noise and then felt it hit the side of my house at approx. 3:15. Clock and painting fell off the wall and books and things fell out of the bookshelves. The shaking was alot stronger than last time and seemed to last longer. huntington, tx - I got out of bed at approximately 3:00 am to give my daughter some medicine. Shortly after I layed back down, around 3:15 am, I felt the house begin to tremble and the pictures on the walls rattled. My bed began to tremble & it sounded and felt like someone was jumping up & down in the middle of my home. I live in a mobile home and its easy to feel the washing machine spinning or my kids running through the house, but the washer wasn't on & no one was awake other than myself. Henderson, Tx - Woke up after 3 am to a jolt and the dog jumped on top of me freaking out...didnt know what was going on. New London, TX - The sound of my dryer vent clanking woke me up. I then felt a couple of very light "shudders" as I lay in bed. Timpson, Texas - We were asleep and it woke us up! Very, very scary! All our pictures on the walls were crooked. No major damage, just a very strange sensation! 2438 fm 1645 - I live 1/4 mile from what is being reported as epicenter on fm 1645. Was awakened by loud boom then whole house rattling. Only had one picture frame fall from top of Tv. I did go outside and look around and noticed the above ground poolwater was still shaking 10 minutes later. I felt at the time that it was stronger than the previous one, although, I was in Garrison during the other one. Appleby - Appleby, woke me at 3.12, shaking bed, doors, etc Longview, Tx - I thought the little off balance experience was because I remembered where I put my keys! ;D White Oak, TX - This woke me up at approx. 3;11 am. Every window in my house rattled, and i could hear the roof rafters vibrating. We live about 50 miles north/northwest of Timpson. Stockman (SE of Timpson) - My husband and I awoke to the bed moving violently and hearing things crash. We're on the 2nd story and it felt like the whole house was moving. We got up after the shaking to check things. Items had fallen in our dining room and pantry mostly- both are on outside walls. A wild experience that I never thought I'd have in east Texas! ( We were in Houston during the 3.9 last week.) What a way for my husband's birthday to begin! Minden, TX - Bed was shaking, it woke me up and I looked at the clock. My clock said about 3:16am. Lasted for about 20 very long seconds. Texas - I was awakened by the bed shaking, the ceiling fan over the bed swinging back and forth, and the side mirrors on my dresser were swinging back and forth. My stepson came down stairs because his walls were shaking and everhthing in the room bouncing around. It sounded like a train with ten engines pulling it was under the house. The sounds lasted a very long time with vibrations after the shaking stopped. Hallsville, TX - It woke me up at 3:12. Ceiling fan was shaking. Shreveport, LA-71115 - I was awakened with my bed shaking. I thought something was in my bed, searched, found nothing and then heard about the earthquake this morning. Nacogdoches, Tx - The shaking of my bed woke me, still was half asleep trying to figure out what was going on, heard chiming of things that wear hanging on ceiling swaying. Lasted alot longer than May 10 earthquake. Garrison, TX - Awakened to a loud boom and the house shaking violently. Hard to describe - very frightening. Bossier City, La - I was laying in my bed after 2 or 3 a.m. (not really sure of the time). I was awaken by the sound of my daughters television and as a laid in my bed, I felt a small rocking motion kinda like when you rock a baby to sleep. All I could do was call on Jesus because it was kinda funny feeling. Besides I knew it wasn't me doing the moving. God is doing his work. Kilgore, Tx - Was asleep in bed. Woke up thinking thunder shook the house then realized I was still moving. Thought someone was shaking me or I was shaking in a dream. It was between 3 and 3:30 am. Big Sandy Texas - Was sitting on couch felt it sway and the cat felt it too. San Augustine, TX - Very slight motion. Not as bad as those in CA. Been through some as high as 5.9. Timpson may have had the most damage - none between Chireno and San Augustine. San Augustine, Texas - was lying on the floor reading around maybe 3am and felt the floor slightly swaying for about 10 - 15 seconds. Lived in Alaska and experienced earthquakes regularly and knew the feeling. Husband didn't believe me! But then he was asleep and he's never experienced earth quakes Tyler, Texas - My husband was up at 3am when this happened. He leaned his chair back and everything started vibrating, moving side to side. He thought someone had hit our townhome. Nothing broke but things that were leaned against wall rattled and his recliner felt like it was vibrating side to side. Nacogdoches, Texas - My dogs woke me up nervous and crying, then I felt light shaking, and thought it was a seismic crew that have been blasting daily for the last month or so. I didn't realize it was an earthquake until later in the day. Liberty city texas - I was in bed and watching tv and house began to shake it felt like something was trying to pick up my house woke husband he thouht the kids may have feel out bed or something glad to know I'm not crazy... White Oak East Mountain - I was awaken appx 3:15 am from my headboard shaking. I was'nt sure what it was, but i got out of bed and got down on my knees beside the bed and started to pray. Tatum, Texas 75691 - What i felt here is between your descriptions of ''weak and light'' shaking. The first few seconds was very weak shaking then got stronger to the point the couch i'm sitting on was rocking enough to push against my coffee table and make it squeek from the movement and my 29 gallon fish tank water was sloshing pretty good, it totally got my attention. Nacogdoches - The windows shook slightly and bed rocked some. Knew immediately what it was since I am originally from So. California. Small in comparison to what I have felt before. Definitely unmistakable though when I felt it. Always feels like a sonic boom to me but more shaking. Longbranch TX - Was in bed when felt my bed and house shake and could hear pitures and windows ratteling. I knew it was another earthquake because I experienced the one last week. Felt like a pipeline explosion without the noise. 3 miles east of Appleby, TX - Woke up holding on to my bed as it shook/rolled. I realized the whole room was moving in the same manner. Everything in the room was shaking while in the background I could hear a low rumble like a train pulling a large heavy load. When it stopped I looked at my cell phone. It was 3:05 am. I went to the next room to check on my 86 yr old mother. I found her in bed holding a pillow while she was looking around the room. With large eyes she looked at me and asked, "Was that a earthquak Big Sandy, Tx - I was sitting in a rocking chair that started rocking ever so slightly. After last Thursday's quake I wondered if we were having an other one..... Garrison,texas - It sound like a train coming riht in the house. Appleby - I live in a 33ft travel trailer. i awoke to the trailer shaking, at first thought it was wind, but that was not the case. it lasted a few seconds. had never experienced an earthquake before, it was scary Marshall, Tx. - I was sitting down in my office....reading about the EARTHQUAKE that Nostradamus predicted for May 20th, of all things!! THEN, I wondered why on earth was my chair shaking? I thought my sister was washing clothes; maybe it was on spin cycle? No. The floor was moving under my feet; naturally I panicked; my 12 yr old ran out, saying she was scared; things in her room were shaking. I thought the May 20 earthquake had begun, as we NEVER see this in Texas. I was in panic mode; too scared to go to bed Shady Grove, Texas - Had just laid down for about 10 minutes and then the whole bed started shaking,it lasted over a minute or two, first one i have ever experienced and needless to say i have been shook up all day. very frightening Garrison Texas - Heard a noise.. not sure what it was.. not even sure if it was a high pitched noise or more like thunder... then the rumbling started-then the wild slamming back and forth. the bed was being thrown back and forth..picture holding a pair of dice and "shaking them" back and forth, thats what it felt like in my bed. it lasted 15 seconds or so. (maybe more,maybe less..I really cant say for sure).. I got out of bed and had difficulty standing. I had pictures and knick-knacks knocked to the Martin Lake - Awoke to what I thought was a tornado blowing the house down.The plank siding was making a slapping sound and the attic was creaking. The recliner I fell asleep in seem to be shaking side to side. Then I realized that the weather was clear. I walked to my carport where my wife was working a puzzle setting on the concrete steps on a oncrete slab & she said it seemed like the steps were moving. Hemphill, Texas - I was awakened early in the morning, and bed was shaking.. I thought I was having a bad dream.. Didn't know what happened till saw it on news. North Shreveport - My boxer awoke at a around 3am or so whining and persistently pawing at my bed until I let him outside. This is very unusual-he NEVER awakens me during the middle of the night. I thought my husband had forgotten to let him go to the bathroom the night before, which was not so. Then I heard about the earthquake-I think he sensed or felt the quake. Clayton, Texas - We live in Clayton, Texas. In a log home,woke to the corner logs cracking and pressure on corner joints of our room. quake was felt like a tree felling on house. I have experienced quakes in Bagio, Philippines and these were pretty strong for Texas. Shelbyville,TX - Shelbyville,TX I was laying down on the couch watching TV next thing I know the whole house start shaking but at first I thought it was just my washing machine but it was really a earthquake
EMSC	Eastern Texas	May 17 08:12 AM	4.4	2.0	MAP	I Felt It

May 10, 2012 I Have Felt It reports
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SRC	Location	UTC Date/time	M	D	INFORMATION
USGS	Eastern Texas	May 10 15:15 PM	3.9	13.0	MAP	I Felt It
Timpson, Tx - We live on 2336 FM 1970 N in Timpson, Texas. I was sitting at the computer when the entire house shook. I thought someone had ran into the house. Caroline Davis Central Heights, TX - It shook enough to be felt on the couch and make the lights sway. Lake Murvaul - At my computer doing payroll. House and computer monitor shook for a few seconds. Windows rattled. Live right on Lake Murvaul. :-)
USGS	Eastern Texas	May 10 15:15 PM	3.7	5.0	MAP	I Felt It
EMSC	Eastern Texas	May 10 15:15 PM	3.7	5.0	MAP	I Felt It

EARTHQUAKES IN THE STABLE CONTINENTAL REGION
Most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains has infrequent earthquakes. Here and there earthquakes are more numerous, for example in the New Madrid seismic zone centered on southeastern Missouri, in the Charlevoix-Kamouraska seismic zone of eastern Quebec, in New England, in the New York – Philadelphia – Wilmington urban corridor, and elsewhere. However, most of the enormous region from the Rockies to the Atlantic can go years without an earthquake large enough to be felt, and several U.S. states have never reported a damaging earthquake. The earthquakes that do occur strike anywhere at irregular intervals.
Earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains, although less frequent than in the West, are typically felt over a much broader region. East of the Rockies, an earthquake can be felt over an area as much as ten times larger than a similar magnitude earthquake on the west coast. A magnitude 4.0 eastern U.S. earthquake typically can be felt at many places as far as 100 km (60 mi) from where it occurred, and it infrequently causes damage near its source. A magnitude 5.5 eastern U.S. earthquake usually can be felt as far as 500 km (300 mi) from where it occurred, and sometimes causes damage as far away as 40 km (25 mi).
FAULTS
Earthquakes everywhere occur on faults within bedrock, usually miles deep. Most of the region’s bedrock was formed as several generations of mountains rose and were eroded down again over the last billion or so years. (text : courtesy USGS)

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