Earthquake Epicentre Identified

One of Europe’s worst recorded earthquakes occurred some 645 years ago around the Swiss city of Basel, which was largely destroyed as a result. Seismic specialists often refer to Basel as Switzerland’s San Francisco, in the sense that a major geological fault runs through the area, and because another major earthquake is almost certain to happen there sometime in the future. This is of great concern because of the high population density around Basel. But also because of the large chemical industry there and nuclear power facilities in the region, which includes neighbouring France and Germany. Now, a study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in cooperation with the Universities of Basel and Strasbourg, France has located the exact epicentre of the first devastating quake, and has even made it possible to venture a guess about when another one may take place. Swiss Radio International’s Vincent Landon has the story.