Magnitude 5.2 tremor felt across Malta

A tremor measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was registered to the southeast of Malta on Monday morning.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the earthquake’s epicentre was located around 205 kilometres east of the islands at a depth of 10 kilometres. It struck at approximately 11.55am.

Many residents across different localities reported a brief shake when the tremor struck. 

The seismometer showing the ground motion detected by the tremor.

Although Malta does not sit on a major fault line, the seabed surrounding the central Mediterranean lies close to the tectonic boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. This geological setting occasionally produces small earthquakes and undersea tremors that can be felt onshore.

The most recent significant tremor felt locally was in April, when a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck just 16 kilometres off Mellieħa, shaking parts of the island but causing no damage.

Speaking to Times of Malta, Matthew Agius, who works at the University of Malta’s Seismic Monitoring Centre, said the earthquake was the third one in the past month to originate from the same area.

"This area remains one of the least studied, mainly because it is far from land-based seismic stations," he said.