A large area in and around Gothenburg was shaken by an earthquake on Wednesday evening. The epicenter was 15 kilometers south of central Gothenburg.
People around and Gothenburg testify excessive shaking around at 21.45 on Wednesday evening.
– There is an earthquake. It is pretty clear. Most likely southwest of Styrsö. It has happened for real. I would think that there are over 2.0 on the Richter scale. Perhaps it is 2.5 but I hardly think that it would be 3.0, said seismologist Reynir Bödvarsson at Uppsala University, the GP just after the quake.
Later confirmed Uppsala University that it was an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.8 .
– It’s pretty big in Swedish conditions, but there is nothing remarkable. 2014 we had a quake of 5.6 in the Kattegat, said Reynir Bödvarsson.
The quake’s exact position was 15 kilometers south of central Gothenburg and at a depth of 20 kilometers.
Hundreds of concerned people have contacted the GP about the powerful tremor. There are reports of excessive noise and vibration not only from the Gothenburg area but also in Halland, so far up in Bohuslan Lysekil and east in Lilla Edet.
– On Vrångö shook and rumbled significantly. We first thought it was thunder struck down but it felt like it was more of a sharp detonation, says a witness.
Freelance journalist Stefan Renström staying at Vrångö. He says the quake felt really well.
– The sound and the vibration was like a freight train. I have experienced before. But something was different from the past is that we felt a sharp shock. It is the first time. Probably it is because the quake began as closely here.
He has been a tour of the house on the farm, but everything seems to have survived.
Became children afraid?
– No, not at all. They just feel that this is fun.
Read also: Hundreds of witnesses have contacted about how the quake affected them
Björnlund is seismically active and at Uppsala University. He sorts out some of the question marks surrounding the earthquake.
Will the sea by an earthquake of this magnitude?
– No, I would not believe it This earthquake is not large enough, it is in this case insignificant changes.
Björnlund tells us that major waves or tsunamis only occur at much stronger quakes.
– It is necessary to is a specific type of vertical movement of the fault, which lifts or lowers the seabed. For a large tsunami with waves over one meter required a quake of around 7.0 on the Richter scale.
When can an earthquake be dangerous to the public?
– It is of course difficult to answer precisely. But they say that when it comes up above 5.0 on the Richter scale, there is a risk of damage to buildings, although it then do not tend to move about more damage, it also depends on how well constructed buildings. At six and above on the Richter scale, it becomes damage.
The Earth’s crust consists of a number of so-called tectonic plates, where Sweden is on the Eurasian continental plate. Where the different plates meet is the risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions greatest.
How is it possible that there will be earthquakes in Sweden, which is not located on any plate boundary?
– We are of course a long way from the plates, but the tension generated at the plate boundaries are all over the plate, and therefore can even Sweden is experiencing smaller aftershocks.
Did you receive any reports aftershock?
– We have not seen anything yet, but it will be something they will become smaller, probably around 2.0 on the Richter scale on the islands, says Björn Lund.
The rescue services and the police have so far been no reported injuries
