By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
SCHWYZ – Residents across parts of central Switzerland felt a brief tremor late Monday night as a minor earthquake struck near the town of Schwyz. The Swiss Seismological Service (SED) recorded the magnitude 2.8 event at 10:12 p.m. local time.
Shallow Depth Increases Visibility
While the magnitude was low, the quake occurred at a very shallow depth of approximately 5 kilometers. Seismologists note that shallow tremors are often felt more distinctly by people on the surface than deeper quakes of the same magnitude.
According to preliminary seismic data, the vibration was most likely felt in:
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Andermatt: Located just 1 km from the epicenter, where residents reported weak shaking.
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Airolo and Erstfeld: Towns within a 25-km radius reported very weak vibrations.
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Broader Region: In larger population centers like Luzern and Schwyz, the tremor was likely too faint to be noticed by most people.
No Damage Reported
Local authorities and the SED confirmed that a magnitude 2.8 earthquake is typically too weak to cause structural damage. No injuries or property issues have been reported in the aftermath of the event.
Regional Seismic Activity
Switzerland experiences hundreds of small earthquakes annually, though only a fraction are felt by the public. Tonight’s event serves as a reminder of the region’s active alpine geology. Seismologists continue to monitor the area for potential aftershocks, though none are expected to be significant.
The SED may refine the exact magnitude and epicenter coordinates as more data from the regional sensor network is processed over the coming hours.