France is far from being safe from earthquakes. This fact has been revealed by a study carried out jointly by the bureau of geological and mining research (BRGM) and the Caisse Centrale de Réassurance (CCR).
While the Antilles area remains the most eathquake-prone region, the Southern Alps and the south of Alsace are also targeted by seismic hazards.
An earthquake similar to that occuring in 1660 in Bagnères-de-Bigorre (department of the Hautes-Pyrénées) could cause between 5 and 8 billion EUR (5.3 and 8.5 billion USD) of direct economic damage.
It should be noted that to date, the most devastating earthquake in France was that of Lambesc (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) occuring on June 11, 1909. This 6.2 magnitude earthquake had Killed 46 people, injured 250 and destroyed more than 3 000 homes.
Read also: