Two earthquakes of magnitude 2.6 felt in the Pyrenees and Béarn

The editorial team advises you

The second occurred a few hours later near Oloron-Sainte-Marie. The epicenter would be located between the Béarnaise sub-prefecture but also the municipalities of Arette, Bedous and Bieille. Around 6:10 p.m., the locals experienced a slight earthquake, which occurred 5 km deep underground.

Episodes that illustrate the mobility of the earth's crust

Seismologists remain attentive to the situation in order to detect any suspicious or more significant activity in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region. Nevertheless, and according to their initial analyses, these two episodes illustrate the mobility of the earth's crust. The geological pressure underground is currently so intense that it is released through weak earthquakes, barely perceptible to humans.

This concentration of low-intensity movements, called “microseisms”, avoids stronger seismic episodes. This is why populations close to the epicenters did not necessarily perceive this week's seismic activity. No deterioration was also noted.