Earthquakes in France — January 2026
1 earthquakes were recorded in France during January 2026, an average of 0.0 per day.
1 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.
The month's largest event in France was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Les Houches, France on 12 January 2026 at 06:28 UTC. A magnitude 4.2 earthquake radiates roughly 30 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is below the France monthly average of 1 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month.
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 1 in the magnitude 4 range.
That is 25% below the 1 events France averages per month across the 3 months on record.
This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in France in our entire catalogue.
Largest earthquakes in France, January 2026
1 event 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit France in January 2026?
1 earthquakes were recorded in France during January 2026, of which 1 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in France in January 2026?
A magnitude 4.2 event near Les Houches, France on 12 January 2026.
Other months in France
Magnitudes for January 2026 reflect the current USGS review status and may have been revised since first publication. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.