  | |
| Local date | 15 February 1756 |
|---|---|
| Local time | about 8 a.m. |
| Magnitude | 6.4ML |
| Depth | 14–16 km |
| Epicenter | 50°29′N6°28′E / 50.48°N 6.47°E /50.48; 6.47 |
| Areas affected | Düren,North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Max. intensity | MSK-64 VIII (Damaging) |
| Casualties | 4 killed |
The1756 Düren earthquake occurred on the morning at 8 a.m. near the town ofDüren with a magnitude of 6.4 on theRichter scale. It was one of the strongest earthquakes inCentral Europe, and the strongest in Germany's recorded history.[1] The depth of the hypocenter is estimated at 14–16 kilometres (8.7–9.9 mi).[2] This earthquake may have been a remotely triggered event from the1755 earthquake in Lisbon, but there is not enough evidence for this.[citation needed]
The quake caused damage to buildings in theCologne,Aachen,Jülich andBad Münstereifel area. The earthquake was felt inBerlin,Stuttgart and as far away asLondon andParis. Damage corresponded to intensity level VIII on theMedvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale. According to today's assessment, it reached a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale;[3] significantly stronger than theearthquake in Roermond in 1992, which reached a magnitude of 5.9.
There were two deaths in Düren, where many buildings were badly damaged. Parts of the city walls of Düren andBad Münstereifel collapsed or were heavily damaged. Some of the hot springs in Aachen ran dry, while others increased in strength. A spring atBreinigerberg also ran dry. The water table fell in open tin and lead mines and some became dry.[4]
Two people were also killed and one man was seriously injured in Aachen. In addition, over 300 chimneys collapsed in Cologne. Damage was also reported in neighbouring countries.[citation needed]