Is There A Cosmic Reason Behind The French Alps' 40 Earthquakes In 140 Days?

The alpine region of Savoie in France has been suffering from over a hundred small earthquakes. Is there a large cosmic body affecting the Earth’s gravitational pull? Or is there a much more scientific reason?

A small region of France has recently suffered 140 earthquakes over a period of 40 days

High up in the Savoie region of France, in the French Alps, the area called Maurienne has been shaken awake by small tremors. The strongest measured 3.8 on the Richter Scale. Residents in the village of Montgellafray told the local radio that everything shook. They have scared local residents, even though none of the quakes has caused any structural damage.

The small village of Saint François Longchamp in the Savoie where the earthquakes are taking place

The last deadly quake in France was in 1909

The damage from the earthquake in Provence, France in 1909 that killed 46 people

No one has a definitive answer to why there have been so many quakes

No one can really say with one hundred percent certainty why the quakes happened in such quick succession, if they are likely to continue, and with what repercussions. The region is a popular skiing area—the town of Francçois Saint Longchamp is a popular resort for families—and there are fears that the quakes might cause more avalanches now and during the upcoming winter ski season.

Conspiracy theorists think the quakes are being caused by Planet X or Nibiru

There is a stellar body known as a Brown Dwarf that conspiracy theorists think is behind the quakes. Called Planet X, Nibiru, Nemesis, and Black Star by its avid watchers (on Planetxnews.com), many of the conspiracists think it is pulling at the earth’s gravitational forces, causing a huge earthquake and volcanic activity worldwide. They believe the devastation will reach fever pitch in November and December 2017. NASA has quashed these rumors.

The mythical planet of Nibiru or Planet X which some people say is causing the avalanches in France

Seismologists think France might suffer a larger earthquake

The most logical explanation is that France is gearing up for a large earthquake; the southeast of France sits on an active seismic zone. There were a series of earthquakes along the French Riviera in 2014 (one measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale) and some experts believe that the region is likely to suffer from a larger earthquake at some point in the near future.

The glacier near Saint François Longchamp in the Haute Savoie

It is thought that these smaller tremors are more likely the precursor to a larger one. Remy Bossu from the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) in Paris reported to The Local: “We don’t know when a big one will come, but it will and there will be fatalities.”

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.