November 11, 2019 Earthquake: Le Teil, Saint-Thome, Viviers, France

The commune of Teil, in the Ardeche department (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes) has been especially affected, with around 250 old buildings severely damaged, as well as two churches whose spires appear to be at risk, and one church in which part of the ceiling has collapsed.

Four people were reported injured, including one person seriously. (reference #12776)

The earthquake caused significant damages (epicentral intensity VII to VIII EMS98) in the villages of Le Teil, Saint-Thome, and Viviers, fissuring thick walls and falling roof tiles, chimneys, and window frames from houses. Locally, the first two villages were especially affected with the partial collapse of several cobble stone masonry buildings. In total, more than 900 houses and buildings have been seriously damaged in Le Teil, and declared at risk of worsening status or even collapsing.

The economic loss from the earthquake could reach 50 M€. The Le Teil earthquake corresponds to the most destructive and the strongest earthquake ever felt in France since the Arette (Pyrenees) earthquake in 1967 (ML 5.3, MSK VII-VIII,). Before this event, the level of instrumental seismicity in the Rhone River Valley was low, and a few damaging historical earthquakes had been documented.(reference #12777)