Earthquake of Magnitude 3.5 Wakes Tyrol

Residents of the Austrian province of Tyrol were jolted awake on Saturday morning by an earthquake of magnitude 3.5 on the Richter scale. According to data from Austria's seismological institute, Geosphere Austria, the tremors occurred near the town of Hall, with the epicenter at a depth of eight kilometers.

Conflicting Reports on Earthquake Timing

Sources differ on the exact time the earthquake struck the area. Kurir.rs reports that the ground shook at 6:42 a.m., while Večernji list reports a time of 4:42 a.m. Despite this discrepancy, both sources confirm the same magnitude and depth of the earthquake.

The tremors were felt across a wider area. Residents reported feeling them in Tyrol's capital, Innsbruck, as well as in places like Seefeld and Tux, which are located farther from the epicenter.

Testimonies from Frightened Residents

Residents described dramatic moments. "First there was a bang, then the house shook," one resident told the daily newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung. Another recounted how in Tux, "the bed shook briefly." In the town of Mils, the earthquake was so strong in one apartment that objects fell to the floor.

According to field reports, the tremors were accompanied by a loud rumble, and many said they were awakened by the rattling of glass and visible shaking of furniture.

Minor Damage and Seismologists' Appeal

Minor damage to buildings was also reported, mainly in the form of cracks in facades. Experts from Geosphere Austria emphasize that for an earthquake of magnitude 3.5, significant destruction is not expected. The earthquake reporting service (ZAMG) has called on residents in the affected area to submit reports via the QuakeWatch Austria app or in writing to their Vienna address, detailing how they felt the earthquake and whether they suffered any damage.