4.1 magnitude earthquake in Nice, France raises concerns among authorities

On Tuesday, March 18, a 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck Nice, France, at approximately 6:45 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located near Vallauris, a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department, situated between Cannes and Antibes on the French Riviera, at a depth of 10 km. This was the strongest earthquake Nice has experienced in the past 20 years.

Despite the strong tremors, no injuries or damage were reported. It is important to note that Nice and its surrounding areas are located in one of the most seismically active zones in mainland France. The region’s geological vulnerability, due to its proximity to the Alps, makes it particularly prone to earthquakes.

Authorities have expressed concerns about potential future structural damage, given the frequency of seismic activity in the area. Nice is the largest urban center in mainland France exposed to this level of seismic risk, along with other regions near the Alps, parts of eastern France, and the Pyrenees mountain range. 

Due to these concerns, the Ministry of Ecological Transition has shared a seismic risk classification map, categorizing France into five hazard levels. This updated seismic risk map, which has been in use since 2011, replaced the 1991 version and currently identifies approximately 21,000 communes across France as being at some level of earthquake risk.