Earthquake of Catalonia of 1428

The Earthquake of Catalonia of 1428 is also known under the name of Séisme of the Chandeleur. The February 2nd 1428, a violent one earthquake shook all the Catalogne (of which the Roussillon), having for epicentre the area of Olot. This seism marks the paroxysm of a seismic crisis which begins almost a year before with a first event dated from the February 23rd 1427. This crisis seems to continue throughout the year (seism in April, March, May, June and December). Certain seisms of this sequence already starts to cause damage, such as for example with the monastery of Amer. When the seism of the Candlemas occurs, the buildings of the area are already tired and it is undoubtedly the reason for which, in addition to the violence of the jolt, the destruction was important.

The maximum intensity is VIII-IX on the scale MSK. The ramparts of Prats de Mollo are destroyed. The bell-tower of Arles-on-Tech crumbles. The monastery of Fontclara with Banyuls-dels-Aspres is dévaté. The damage sudden by the Abbaye Saint Martin's day of Canigou will mark the beginning of its decline. The jolt is felt very far. With Perpignan, people are taken of panic and Barcelona suffers also damage (intensity VI-VII) like the destruction of the rosette of the Gothic church Santa María del Mar. Robin de Molhet (lord of Peyrepertuse), travels from there on these grounds at the time of the drama, came to assistance of the victims, which was worth to him the recognition of Alphonse IV.

The Réplique S lasted more than one year. This seism surely made several hundreds of deaths although a precise calculation is not available.

This earthquake is the most important historical seism for the area of the the Pyrenees and has a role of reference for the studies of seismic risk.

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