Earthquakes in Valtournenche
Seismic activity in the surroundings
30 km radiusINGV catalogue epicentres of the last ~12 years, within the given radius from the town centre.
How seismic is this area?
Medium-low seismicity: strong quakes are rare, but not impossible.
Official Civil Protection classification (upd. 2025), used for building codes.
Hazard describes the long-term expected shaking: it is not a forecast. Technical value: ag = 0.105 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).
The “area” is Valtournenche plus nearby towns.
The seismic history of Valtournenche
The earthquakes that were actually felt in Valtournenche over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).
- 1996IV-V31 March 1996
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Valle d'Aosta earthquake (M4.2), epicentre 14 km away · observed at Valtournenche (Pâquier)
- 1993IV14 June 1993
Moderate: felt by many indoors; glasses and dishes rattle.
Val d'Ossola earthquake (M4.3), epicentre 50 km away · observed at Valtournenche (Pâquier)
- 1980III5 January 1980
Light: felt by few people, like a passing truck.
Torinese earthquake (M4.8), epicentre 103 km away · observed at Valtournenche (Pâquier)
- 1905V29 April 1905
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Haute-Savoie, Vallorcine earthquake (M5.1), epicentre 50 km away · observed at Valtournenche (Pâquier)
- 1887III23 February 1887
Light: felt by few people, like a passing truck.
Liguria occidentale earthquake (M6.3), epicentre 226 km away · observed at Fontaine
Source: Italian Macroseismic Database DBMI15 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).
The great earthquakes in this area's history
Almost a thousand years of catalogues: the strongest documented events within ~50 km.
Source: Parametric Catalogue of Italian Earthquakes CPTI15 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).
The closest seismic structure
The town lies about 37 km from Western Valais, one of the seismic structures mapped by INGV geologists.
Faults are mapped to build better and understand the territory: knowing them says nothing about when an earthquake will occur, which remains unpredictable. Source: DISS 3.3 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).
Area over time
Earthquake map
60 eventsEarthquakes in the area
Nearby towns
How does it compare with the surroundings?
Valtournenche sits in one of the most seismically active areas of its province: quakes are a familiar presence here, almost always light.
Each quake is attributed to the town closest to its epicentre: the numbers describe the area, not the municipal territory alone.
Context
Province of Aosta3 events · 30gAosta Valley region3 events · 30gFrequently asked questions
Were there earthquakes today in Valtournenche?
No, no quakes were recorded today in the Valtournenche area: the latest nearby dates back to 1 month ago.
Is Valtournenche a seismic area?
Valtournenche is classified in seismic zone 3 by the Civil Protection. Medium-low seismicity: strong quakes are rare, but not impossible.
What was the strongest earthquake near Valtournenche?
In the last ~12 years of INGV data, the strongest within 30 km of Valtournenche was magnitude 3.9, in 2021.
When was the last quake near Valtournenche?
The last quake recorded within 30 km of Valtournenche was 1 month ago.
Tip. Click a nearby town to explore its seismicity.
Data: INGV — National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CC-BY 4.0)