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UPDATE: Earthquake hits Swiss canton of Valais

The Local Switzerland
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UPDATE: Earthquake hits Swiss canton of Valais
General view of the Alps on March 4, 2018 from Crans-Montana above the Rhone valley in the Swiss canton of Valais, location of Sion, a city of some 34,000 souls bidding to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. - The official race to succeed 2018 hosts Pyeongchang, and Beijing in 2022 begins in March when would be candidates file "letters of intention" to the International Olympic Committee. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

An earthquake which registered 4.1 on the Richter scale shook parts of the Swiss canton on Tuesday. This is what we know so far.

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Material damages of yet unspecified amount but no victims are reported in the aftermath of the earthquake that jolted the area near Arolla, at the foot of the Val d'Hérens, Tuesday around 7:40 am.  

The earthquake was "largely felt" in  parts of the Rhône Valley, from Villeneuve to Brig, as well as in the neighbouring valleys, according to Swiss Seismological Service (SED).

A aftershock occurred about half an hour later, but was weaker than the first, measuring 1.8 on the Richter scale.

Seismic activity is common in Switzerland, although most of it goes unnoticed by the population.

Valais is the canton with the highest earthquake risk, followed by Basel and Graubünden. 

 

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