Two earthquakes in one night: Unusual tremors near Ulm!

Two earthquakes in one night: Unusual tremors near Ulm!

On Monday night, the residents of the region around Ulm and Neu-Ulm were woken from their sleep when two earthquakes shook the area. According to a report from Schwäbische, the quakes occurred at 2:46 a.m. and 3:20 a.m., with magnitudes of 1.6 and 1.5. These weak earthquakes had their epicenter in Elchingen, in the Neu-Ulm district, and were about 23 kilometers underground. Such earthquakes are rare in this area, which makes the events all the more surprising.

The last comparable earthquake occurred in 2020 near Pfaffenhofen with a magnitude of 1.8. It is noteworthy that despite the relatively high number of around 371 small earthquakes per year in the region, such an occurrence on one evening is the exception. So far, 123 earthquakes have been registered within a 100-kilometer radius of Ulm since the beginning of the year, with a magnitude of up to 2.5. Particularly worth mentioning was the strongest shock at the beginning of September, which occurred 20 kilometers from Konstanz.

Miscellaneous and statistics

Anyone interested can find out about current earthquakes worldwide on the Sunrise online platform. This provides an interactive map and provides statistics on earthquake frequency, both for the current day and for the entire period of the year. Findings from various seismic monitoring services such as BGS, EMSC and USGS are continually updated. The website also lists the strongest earthquake of 2025.

As the Federal Office for Population Assistance and Disaster Protection reports, the probability of strong earthquakes in Germany is low to medium. Nevertheless, there are risk areas, including the Bay of Cologne, the Swabian Alb and the south of the Rhine Graben. It is precisely because of the low tension in the region that surprises like last night can occur.

Earthquakes and their effects

The intensity of earthquakes depends largely on the depth and distance to the epicenter. Seismology is a complex topic that addresses not only the likelihood of earthquakes, but also their deeper impacts on the population. While many people rely on theoretical considerations in times like these, natural events can always serve as reminders of the importance of being prepared for different scenarios.

Finally, it should be noted that the earthquakes around Ulm not only cause a short-term physical shock, but can also create a feeling of unrest among the residents. Such an event makes you think and shows the forces of nature with which we live.