Earthquake in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland
Express newspaper
26/04/2026 16:46
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.8, occurred at 4:24 a.m. and its epicenter was in the Walenstadt area. The tremors were felt throughout Switzerland. No damage was reported.
Early this morning, the Swiss Seismic Service (SED) recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.80 on the Richter scale, about six kilometers east of Walenstadt (SG).
No damage was reported. Authorities have ordered a geological assessment of the possible instability of a rock formation. The impact was likely felt throughout Switzerland.
The earthquake occurred at 4:24 a.m., according to the SED. Generally, minor damage is possible near the epicenter during an earthquake of this magnitude.
In the hour after the earthquake, the SED received 423 reports from people who had felt the shock. Shortly before noon, this number had increased to over 830. Several people also contacted the Service from St. Gallen, almost 40 kilometers from the epicenter.
Geological investigations are underway on a potentially unstable rock formation in Flums Hochwiese, in the Seeztal, between Walenstadt and Sargans, a cantonal police spokesperson told Keystone-ATS this morning. At the moment, the police have no further information regarding this aspect, which is being handled by the cantonal general staff, albinfo.ch reports.
Police have not received any reports from the public about any damage, the spokesman added.
According to the SED, aftershocks are expected in the coming days or weeks, which may also be noticeable.
The service records an average of three to four earthquakes per day in Switzerland and neighboring countries, for a total of 1000-1500 tremors per year. However, each year the population feels around ten to twenty earthquakes, with a magnitude equal to or greater than 2.5.