4. 1 earthquake shakes nice and surrounding areas: more tremors may come in aftermath

RESIDENTS REPORT BUILDINGS SHAKING. IT WAS THE STRONGEST QUAKE IN 20 YEARS IN THE AREA AND OTHERS FOLLOWED Nice and the surrounding areas were shaken by a series of earthquakes and tremors

last night. Residents reported buildings shaking and furniture moving.  A first tremor, measuring 4.1 in magnitude, was felt at 18.45, with at least 15 others being felt before a final

earthquake (3.8 on the scale) at around 22:45. This is the most powerful earthquake the area has experienced in 20 years, said geologist Christophe Laroque.  Other more recent earthquakes

have had a higher magnitude but their epicentres have been in the Mediterranean and caused less impact on the mainland. Some of last night’s tremors were powerful enough to shake houses and

many residents felt the quake beneath them.  No serious structural damage or injuries are reported but the emergency services faced many callouts during the evening from concerned residents.

Authorities have advised residents that further small tremors may be felt but that this is natural following a larger earthquake. There is no risk of a tsunami. They are asking people to

refrain from calling emergency services so as to not saturate the phone lines.  > Une réplique sismique a été ressentie il ya quelques minutes à > différents endroits du département.

> Ce phénomène de réplique de magnitude moindre, dans les heures et > jours suivant le 1er événement, est habituel selon les experts > sismiques.  > Conscients que cela puisse 

engendrer… > — Préfet des Alpes-Maritimes🇫🇷 (@prefet06) March 18, 2025 ‘I THOUGHT PUTIN WAS ATTACKING’ The tremors were felt along the south-east coast, from the Var department to the

Italian border, however were felt strongest in Nice and the back country behind. The epicentre of the main quakes being between the mountainous communes of Contes and Coaraze. Residents

reacted with fear and some humour.  “There were two jolts, it was brief but I have the impression that it lasted a long time! The glasses clinked in the cupboard, it shook,” one told local

media Nice Matin.  “At first I thought Vladimir [Putin, Russian leader] was attacking but no,” said a resident of Contes, half-jokingly.  “It wasn’t as strong [as I expected], although the

furniture did move,” he added, noting that he called family members to see if they were impacted, some of which in Nice also felt their homes shake.  "All of a sudden, everything shook.

I was in the corridor, walking along. The walls, the plant and the furniture started to move... I was afraid the building was going to collapse, it was crazy, I was scared," said one

resident of Nice's Cimiez district to local media BFMTV.  In Cagnes-sur-Mer, residents thought there was "an explosion" with tremors lasting "about 20 seconds." 

Several people posted on social media about the earthquake. > Assez gros séisme ressenti il y a quelques minutes au nord de Nice. > Première fois que je ressens ça de cette force. >

  > En espérant qu'il n'y pas de dégâts... > — Exar Kun / Ten Tempests / Frédéric de Foy (@TenTempests) March > 18, 2025 > C’est bien la première fois qu’un tel séisme 

a lieu dans la > région, à ce point-là. Impressionnant… C’est vraiment > flippant. #Nice06 #antibes > — CT (@CostaSud_) March 18, 2025 “It's a nice day to find out that I

haven't paid my earthquake insurance,” joked another on social media.  EARTHQUAKES COMMON IN FRANCE: WHAT TO DO Earthquakes are relatively common in France, with thousands of tremors

recorded each year.  However, they are usually not strong enough to be felt by people and far less likely to cause significant structural damage or injury.  Mountainous areas of the south

and east, as well as parts of Brittany, are most prone to quakes. Read more:  Map: Which areas of France are most at risk of earthquakes? If you do feel tremors during an earthquake, the

best thing to do is get underneath a table or between two load-bearing walls to remain secure, and avoid going outside or near any areas where an object may fall on you.  This includes going

near electricity pylons. If driving, you should stop your car but remain inside the vehicle. In the following days, you should check your property for the appearance of structural damage,

such as cracks.