An “explosion”, “a clap of thunder” or even a “rumble”… An earthquake occurred this Tuesday at 11:23 a.m. 9 km south of Tarbes and east of Bagnères-de-Bigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées ), for a few seconds. It was very strongly felt by several hundred people.
At a depth of 10 to 11 km, it was recorded on a scale of 4 according to the national seismic monitoring network (Rénass)and 4.5 according to the geophysical detection laboratory (CEA).
“Some panic reactions”
The shock was felt in many departments, Haute-Garonne, Ariège, Aude, Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Landes. “The majority of people who felt this earthquake are located south of the epicenter, in the Pyrenees, up to the Spanish border,” explains 20 minutes the seismologist from the French Central Seismological Bureau, Alessia Maggi. We had some panic reactions, especially close to the epicenter. »
Less than twenty testimonies “suggest falling objects”. According to Rénass, “it is unlikely that there will be significant damage”, however, “there could be cracks on certain buildings. »
This geographical area is regularly subject to earthquakes. On May 16, 2022, an earthquake measuring 4.8 was recorded. Over the last forty years, the highest was 5.4 on November 17, 2006.