Earthquakes in France
No events have been recorded in France in the past 30 days, though the great majority are too small to be felt at the surface. Activity here is almost entirely crustal, which means shaking at the surface is strong relative to the magnitudes involved.
4 earthquakes have been recorded in France in our catalogue, 0 of them in the past 30 days.
The average magnitude is 3.5 and the average focal depth 9 km. 1 event reached magnitude 4 or above, but none reached magnitude 5.
The strongest earthquake recorded in France in this period was a magnitude 4.2 event near Les Houches, France on 12 January 2026, at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 4.2 earthquake radiates roughly 30 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Locations recording the most events include Les Houches (1), Levens (1), Chapareillan (1), Tourrette-Levens (1).
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 3 in the magnitude 3 range, 1 in the magnitude 4 range.
The busiest single day was 18 March 2025, with 2 recorded events.
No event in this record carries a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information.
All recorded earthquakes in France
4 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | Les Houches, France | 10.0 | France | View details View | |
| 3.3 | Chapareillan, France | 5.0 | France | View details View | |
| 3.1 | Tourrette-Levens, France | 10.0 | France | View details View | |
| 3.3 | Levens, France | 10.0 | France | View details View |
Strongest recorded earthquakes in France
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | Les Houches, France | 10.0 | France | View details View | |
| 3.3 | Levens, France | 10.0 | France | View details View | |
| 3.3 | Chapareillan, France | 5.0 | France | View details View | |
| 3.1 | Tourrette-Levens, France | 10.0 | France | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have there been in France?
4 earthquakes are recorded in France in our catalogue, including 0 in the past 30 days and 1 of magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in France?
The largest recorded here was a magnitude 4.2 event near Les Houches, France on 12 January 2026.
Is France at risk of earthquakes?
Earthquake hazard depends on proximity to active faults and plate boundaries rather than on national borders. The record for France shows 1 events of magnitude 4 or above, which is the band at which shaking becomes widely noticeable. Consult your national seismic hazard agency for building-code and preparedness guidance.
Earthquakes in France by month
Event counts for France reflect seismic network density as well as genuine activity. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.