Magnitude 4.6 earthquake — 7 km W of Lunca Jariștei, Romania

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck central Romania on Tuesday afternoon, centred about 7 kilometres west of Lunca Jariștei in Vrancea County.

The tremor hit at around half past five in the evening local time, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake originated deep underground — some 140 kilometres down — which is actually rather typical for this part of Romania.

What a 4.6 magnitude feels like

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake is considered moderate. Indoors, most people would notice it clearly — hanging objects swing, windows rattle, and you might hear dishes clinking in the cupboard. It feels rather like a heavy lorry passing very close to your house, though it lasts longer. Outdoors, fewer people tend to notice unless they're standing still. There's rarely significant damage from quakes of this size, particularly when they're as deep as this one.

The depth matters quite a bit. Because this earthquake occurred so far beneath the surface, the shaking at ground level would have been less intense than if the same magnitude had struck closer to the surface. On the other hand, deep quakes tend to be felt over a much wider area, so people across several counties likely noticed the tremor.

Romania's earthquake zone

Vrancea County sits in one of Europe's most seismically active regions. The area experiences frequent earthquakes due to a complex bit of geology involving an old piece of tectonic plate still sinking deep beneath the Carpathian Mountains. Most are small and harmless, though the region has produced some significant quakes over the years.

Local residents are generally quite accustomed to the occasional shake, though it never becomes entirely routine when the ground moves beneath your feet.

It's not yet known whether there have been any reports of damage or injuries, though given the depth and magnitude, serious consequences would be unlikely.

Your turn

Were you in Romania when this struck, or do you know someone who was? Did you feel it? The Old Tossers community has readers scattered all over, and we'd love to hear your first-hand accounts. Drop us a comment below if you experienced this one or remember other earthquakes from your time in that part of the world.