Earthquake of June 11th, 1909

The Earthquake of June 11th, 1909 refers to a seism of magnitude 6,2 on the scale of Richter which occurred in the South-east of the France and which destroyed the towns of Living room-of-Provence, Vernègues, Lambesc, Saint-Cannat and Rognes in the Massif of Trévaresse in Provence (Rhone delta). It is the earthquake of magnitude highest to date recorded in Metropolitan France.

The human account gives a report on 46 dead and 250 wounded. The width of the property damages was considerable since: 2000 constructions were damaged and this for total costs of 2,2 frank billion .

The origin of this earthquake is in the bringing together of the African Plaque (more precisely of the Adriatic Plaque) in direction of the Eurasian Plaque in the north and which has as a consequence the crumpling of the Earth's crust, at the origin of the erection of the the Alps, and the formation of Faille S generating the seisms.

Since, no activity of strong width was to be regretted but vigilance remains of setting. Classified in zone II, that is to say with average seismicity, this area asks as a preliminary that the rules of paraseismic construction be rigorously observed.

Seism

Preliminary jolts

Several preliminary jolts occur at various places of Provence: the May 25th 1909, with the Puy-Holy-Réparade and the 28 with Saint-Cannat.

Principal jolts

The June 11th 1909, with 21:15, two jolts very violent shake Low-Provence, and, more particularly, is department of the Rhone delta.

The June 14th, one gives a report on an assessment of 43 dead. The June 15th, the under-secretary of State to the ministry for the Interior, Mr. Mauzan, under the orders of the minister Clemenceau, visit destroyed villages.

The June 16th, the assessment is changed to 46 died and several hundreds of casualties. One evaluates the damage, the June 19th, to 15,5 franc million, including 4,6 million with Living room-of-Provence, 2 million with Saint-Cannat and 1,55 million with Rognes.

Counterparts

In the following weeks, Counterpart S, sometimes violent, occur, throwing fear among the population: the July 10th, with Meyrargues, 12, 13, 14 and July 16th with Puyricard, Arles, Lambesc, Marseilles and Toulon.

Damage

Aix-en-Provence (Rhone delta): The roof of the Vermicelle laughs Augier crumbles.
Cornillon-Confoux (Rhone delta): Destruction partial of the Church (collapse of the tympanum).
Puy-Holy-Réparade the (Rhone delta): More than twenty destroyed houses. Two dead. Water becomes muddy in several wells.
Mouriès (Rhone delta): The upper part of the bell-tower is killed.
Sluice (Vaucluse): Damage caused with several Bridge S of the Channel of Marseilles.
Bad tempers: considerable damage. Fourteen dead. The collapse of a sheep-fold also causes the death of 150 Mouton S.
Living room-of-Provence (Rhone delta): Considerable damage. Twenty meters of walls of the Château of Empéri are cut down.
Alleys (Rhone delta): The top of the village is shaven in its greater part.
Vernègues (Rhone delta): Collapse of the castle. The near total of the houses is destroyed. Two dead. The village has had for summer rebuilt low.

Appendices

List of seismic catastrophes

External bonds

Testimony of the abbot Moreux
the seism of 1909 in Rognes
Note of the commander Spiess, member of the Geological Company of France

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