Earthquake above magnitude 5 hits western France

A rare 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit large parts of western France on Friday evening, June 16, with the seismology bureau BCSF calling it "very strong" amid reports of damage to buildings. Ecology transition minister Christophe Béchu said it was "one of the strongest quakes registered on the mainland."

The national network for seismic surveillance RENASS recorded the quake at 5.3 while the French Central Seismological Bureau (BCSF) put it at 5.8. The last earthquakes of similar strength in France struck in the early 2000s.

In the Deux-Sevres department, one person was slightly injured and treated on the spot, the prefecture said. "A series of material damage was reported from the southwest of the department," with stone falling off buildings and cracks appearing in walls, the prefecture's statement said.