Earthquakes in May 2025

Three noticeable earthquakes occurred in Austria in May, all epicenters were located in Lower Austria.

On May 2, a strong earthquake of magnitude 3.2 occurred at 01:47 CEST about 6 km south of Scheibbs, Lower Austria (47.96°N, 15.15°E). It was clearly felt by numerous people, many were awakened, startled and observed a distinct shaking of buildings, furniture and objects. The epicentral intensity was 4 to 5 on the 12-level European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98).

A slight magnitude 1.6 earthquake was felt in the Hohe Wand area, Lower Austria (47.81°N, 16.05°E) on May 19 at 17:59. Occasional tremors and thunder were observed, the intensity reached 3 on the EMS-98.

A magnitude 2.2 earthquake occurred on May 22 at 6:48 pm. The epicenter was located a few kilometers northeast of Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria (47.84°N, 16.29°E), the depth was about 10 km. It was felt by a few people in Wiener Neustadt and Sollenau. The intensity reached 3 degrees on the EMS-98.

The Austrian Seismological Service would like to thank the population for their perception reports, which were used to determine the intensity of the earthquakes.

Excerpt from the short form of the 12-level European Macroseismic Scale 1998, based on Mercalli-Sieberg.

• Degree 3 Weak: The earthquake is felt indoors by a few. People at rest feel a swaying or light trembling. Hanging objects swing slightly.
• Degree 4 Largely observed: The earthquake is felt indoors by many and felt outdoors only by very few. A few people are awakened, the vibration is moderate, slight trembling of the building or room. Glasses, windows and doors rattle, light furniture shakes visibly.
• Degree 5 Strongly observed: Perceived indoors by most people, outdoors by some. Many people wake up. Some people are frightened. Buildings are shaken as a whole. Hanging objects sway strongly. Small objects are displaced. Doors and windows swing open or shut. Hairline cracks appear on a few buildings, especially those prone to damage.

Date / Time (UTC) / M / Epicentral area / Comment

May 2, 2025 12:58 7.4 Chile, Drake Passage / 56.81°S 68.20°W / Uninhabited marine region, small tsunami

May 13, 2025 / 22:51 7 6.0 / Greece, SW of Karpathos / 35.23°N 26.99°E / Focal depth 74 km

May 14, 2025 / 04:15 / 6.4 / Tonga / 18.71°S 175.33°W / Focal depth 260 km

May 19, 2025 / 00:23 / 4.5 / Greece, Euböa / 38.74°N 23.53°E / Series of several earthquakes, around 50 buildings damaged

May 20, 2025 / 15:05 / 6.5 / Papua New Guinea / 3.75°S 144.80°E

May 22, 2025 / 03:19 / 6.2 / Greece, 60 km N of Kreta / 35.81°N 25.86°E / Tsunami warning was lifted, focal depth 64 km

Time - Earthquake time in Universal Time UTC or Greenwich Mean Time GMT / M - Magnitude (logarithmic energy measure) / The coordinates of the world earthquakes are from USGS / Data without guarantee

Seismological Service of Austria - GeoSphere Austria Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna Tel. +43 1 36026 2508 E-Mail: seismo@zamg.ac.at