On March 31st, 2023, an earthquake shook Lower Austria, causing minor damage and sending shockwaves through several cities. The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.2, hit the Gloggnitz am Semmering region at 10:26 p.m., followed by another 2.3 magnitude earthquake at 11:11 p.m.
The Geosphere Austria measuring station, which replaced ZAMG, reported the earthquake on its website. The Android warning system also issued an earthquake alert, detecting the tremors in the affected areas. The earthquake warning system uses devices and sensor data from Android smartphones with Google location accuracy enabled in regions where earthquake tremors are detected.
Several Twitter users reported feeling the earthquake and some reported minor damage. One user in Pitten reported cracks on the wall, while another user in Floridsdorf said that the glasses rattled by themselves. However, no major damage was reported. The earthquake was felt in several cities, including Vienna, Graz, Klosterneuburg, Linz, and Eisenstadt.
People took to social media to report their experiences of the earthquake. “In Pitten, I sat on the balcony and thought everything was collapsing! Cracks on the wall,” one user tweeted. Another user from Floridsdorf said, “Yes, the shock could be felt in Floridsdorf. The glasses rattled by themselves.”
Reports from different parts of Lower Austria also came in on social media. “Sankt Pölten Land: first heard very clearly, then clearly felt. No damage,” was a report from one Twitter user.
Volcanodiscovery.com, a portal that collects information about earthquakes and volcanoes from all over the world, recorded 1,456 reports of people who had noticed the event three hours after the quake. The site encourages people to share their experiences of earthquakes and provides a platform for earthquake reporting.
Google also reported an estimated earthquake magnitude of 4.4 for search terms such as “earthquake in Vienna,” affecting Austria and Hungary. This showed how the earthquake alert systems can help people prepare and stay safe during natural disasters.
The earthquake that hit Lower Austria on March 31st, 2023, caused minor damage but sent shockwaves through several cities. The Geosphere Austria measuring station and the Android warning system both reported the earthquake, and people took to social media to report their experiences. While earthquakes are unpredictable, the availability of warning systems and the ability to share experiences on social media can help people prepare for and stay safe during natural disasters.