© Helen McGrory/SeeChamonix.com
1.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Vallorcine Yesterday
A small quake, the second in the area in 2 days
A small earthquake happened in Vallorcine yesterday of 1.4 magnitude on the richter scale, which followed one of a similar size in Sixt-fer-aCheval near Samoens a few days ago.
The earthquake yesterday centred on Vallorcine, and the epicentre was around 7km underground. Not enough to make the houses rattle or for anyone to especially notice the effects, but it's the frequency of these small earthquakes that scientists are monitoring.
The Chamonix Valley doesn't sit on a tectonic plate boundary, but Le Dauphine reports that scientists believe it could be as a result of Italy turning slightly and compressing the Mont Blanc Massif and thus causing the occasional earthquake.
It's hard for them to predict when, where and how large earthquakes in the region will be, but one thing's for sure it will happen again.
You can see recent earthquakes nearby from data collected by the Swiss Seismological Service.
