LIEGE

Earthquake8 November 1983Special page

Magnitude
5.0ML
Depth
5.8km ± 1.2
Max. int.
7
Belgian time
01:49:341983-11-08
UTC
00:49:341983-11-08

45 historical texts on this earthquake

Main parameters

Magnitude and intensity

Two numbers often confused, with the values of this earthquake and of the Observatory’s catalogue.

Preparing the animation…

1Magnitude: the size of the earthquake

The magnitude (ML 5.0) measures the size of the earthquake at its source, from the amplitude of the waves recorded by seismographs: a single value for the whole earthquake. Since 1985, 100 % of the 3,122 earthquakes with a magnitude in the Observatory’s catalogue have a smaller one.

Animation drawn from the page and the Observatory’s catalogue (tectonic earthquakes since 1985, ML or MW magnitudes); short descriptions of the European Macroseismic Scale EMS-98.

Date and time1983-11-08 00:49:34 UTC
1983-11-08 01:49:34 Belgian time
MagnitudeML 5.0
Epicentral coordinates50.628° N, 5.515° E
Uncertainty ± 0.9 km
Maximum intensity7
Depth of hypocenter5.8 ± 1.2 km
Event IDROB 651

Data source : ROB (Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Last update : 2016-04-27 15:33:49 Belgian time

Location map

Where and when the earthquake began

The focus, the epicentre and their uncertainties, with this earthquake’s values.

Preparing the animation…

1Focus and epicentre

An earthquake starts at depth, at the focus (or hypocentre): here 5.8 km below the surface. The point on the surface right above it is the epicentre (50.628° N, 5.515° E), the one the map shows.

Values from the page and the Observatory’s catalogue (tectonic earthquakes since 1985).

  • Epicentre
  • Station that recorded the event

Special information page

All special pages

The Observatory has written an account of this earthquake (effects, aftershocks, seismotectonic setting), available in French and Dutch.

FrançaisNederlands

Macroseismic intensities

Intensities assessed for each municipality by the seismologists of the Royal Observatory, from the official questionnaires sent to the municipalities, letters received, the press and published studies. They make up the Belgian Traditional Macroseismic database (BTM).

Intensity data points
684
Maximum intensity
VII
Farthest municipality
212km · DE PANNE
Source quality
A
Show
Maximum intensity (Imax), EMS-98
  • I
  • II
  • III
  • IV
  • V
  • VI
  • VII+
  • Epicentre

Points by intensity

IntensityPoints
I264
II54
III126
IV128
V73
VI26
VII13
Total684

Municipalities assessed with a range (Imin < Imax): 19. Switching between Imin and Imax shows the spread of the assessment.

List of the points (684)

Sources of the intensities

SourcePoints
Official ROB questionnaire, version 4684

Belgian Traditional Macroseismic database: Neefs B, Van Noten K, Vanneste K, Camelbeeck T (2025). The Belgian traditional macroseismic (BTM) database of the twentieth century. Journal of Seismology 29, 1005–1036. doi:10.1007/s10950-024-10266-9
Data set: Neefs B, Van Noten K, Vanneste K, Camelbeeck T (2024). The Belgian Traditional Macroseismic (BTM) Database of the 20th Century [data set]. Royal Observatory of Belgium. doi:10.24414/2b5w-j029

Notes and method

For each municipality, an assessment on the European Macroseismic Scale EMS-98: minimum and maximum intensity (Imin, Imax), equal or forming a range (III–IV) that reflects the spread of the testimonies in the municipality, “F” when the earthquake was felt but no degree could be given.

Only Belgian municipalities are in the BTM database. Points of the ROB database outside this area (abroad), not shown: 71.

Points not yet validated in the ROB database (taken as they are into the BTM database): 1.

Seismic activity in the area

Known earthquakes around the epicentre, from the catalogue of the Royal Observatory of Belgium.

Within 10 km of the epicentre

35 other earthquakes in the catalogue since 1849. 30 of them occurred after this one. This is the largest known earthquake in the area.

Latest earthquakes before this one

DatePlaceMagnitudeIntensityDistance km
1965-12-21ANS-VOTTEMML 4.362.6
1937-03-30LIEGE––5.1
1867-02-08LIEGE––6.8
1867-02-07LIEGE–36.8
1849-01-14LIEGE––6.8

Largest known earthquakes

DatePlaceMagnitudeIntensityDistance km
1983-11-08This earthquakeML 5.07–
1965-12-21ANS-VOTTEMML 4.362.6
1983-11-08LIEGEML 3.542.4
1983-11-08LIEGEML 2.941.7
1983-11-08LIEGEML 2.7–2.7

Municipality of Saint-Nicolas

6 other earthquakes in the catalogue since 1983. 6 of them occurred after this one. This is the largest known earthquake in the municipality.

Latest earthquakes before this one

No earthquake known before this one.

Largest known earthquakes

DatePlaceMagnitudeIntensityDistance km
1983-11-08This earthquakeML 5.07–
1983-11-08LIEGEML 2.941.7
1983-11-20LIEGEML 2.430.8
2026-05-13SAINT-NICOLAS (BE)ML 2.3–1.7
1984-01-05LIEGEML 2.2–1.1
Notes and method

Tectonic and induced earthquakes from the Observatory’s catalogue, suspected ones included; quarry blasts, explosions and other events are not counted. Epicentral distances on the WGS84 ellipsoid.

Municipality: 2025 municipal boundaries (Statbel), applied to every earthquake, including those before the merger of municipalities. For an epicentre outside Belgium, only the circular area is given. Each earthquake’s name is the catalogue’s: it may refer to a place near the epicentre.

Magnitude: the one given on each earthquake’s page (ML preferably, otherwise MW or MS); magnitudes of different types are compared as they are.

The epicentres of historical earthquakes are only known to within a few kilometres, sometimes more: whether they fall in the area is indicative. Small earthquakes have only been recorded as the station network grew: the area’s older earthquakes are mostly the largest ones, and recent activity looks more frequent.

Arrival times at the stations

Each station first records the P wave, the fastest, then the S wave. The farther a station is from the epicentre, the later the waves reach it and the wider the gap between the two.

Stations
186
Epicentral distance
32.7 – 8430.1km
Mean velocity, P wave
2.7km/s
Mean velocity, S wave
3.3km/s
  • P wave
  • S wave
  • Curve fitted to the measurements
Notes and method

Curves: travel time of a direct wave in a homogeneous medium. The velocity of each wave and an origin-time shift, common to both, are fitted to the measurements by least squares. Hypocenter at a depth of 5.8 km. P wave: 21 measurements, root-mean-square deviation 57.18 s. S wave: 9 measurements, root-mean-square deviation 11.91 s.

Stations farther than 120 km are left out of the fit: the first waves to reach them have travelled beneath the crust, through the mantle, where they propagate faster.

Table of measurements

Station measurements

P- and S-wave arrivals and ground displacement measured at each station. Click a column heading to change the order.

km°UTCUTCs
Belgian seismic network (Royal Observatory of Belgium)4 stations
MEMMembach35.09300:49:40.50+6.00 s––
UCCUccle83.728300:49:48.10+13.60 s––
DOUDourbes88.322800:49:49.00+14.50 s––
WLFWalferdange116.515700:49:54.50+20.00 s00:50:08.00+33.50 s13.50
Network LDG23 stations
HAUHAUDOMPRE297.916800:50:16.24+41.74 s––
BSFBALLON SERVANCE324.616300:50:20.70+46.20 s––
LORLORMES392.819900:50:29.39+54.89 s––
LBFLES BUTEAUX420.619600:50:32.36+57.86 s––
SSFSaint-Saulge423.120100:50:33.03+58.53 s––
AVFAvril sur Loire455.420100:50:36.73+62.23 s00:51:23.80+109.30 s47.07
SMFSIGNAL DE MONT459.719600:50:36.71+62.21 s––
LDFLA DRUITIERE465.924300:50:37.85+63.35 s––
FLNLa Foliniere479.624700:50:39.48+64.98 s––
BGFBois d'Agland493.520500:50:41.30+66.80 s––
GRRGorron524.324400:50:44.13+69.63 s00:51:37.30+122.80 s53.17
MZFMazirat536.420500:50:46.39+71.89 s––
TCFToulx Ste Croix540.820800:50:47.00+72.50 s––
LPFle Pertre556.924100:50:48.79+74.29 s––
LSFLa Souterraine569.021300:50:50.29+75.79 s––
MFFSaint Martin du Fo611.722500:50:55.79+81.29 s––
RJFLes Rejaudoux662.720800:51:01.60+87.10 s––
LPOLe Pouchou736.320800:51:10.40+95.90 s––
FRFLa Foret Royale790.317300:51:18.39+103.89 s––
LRGLorgues800.017500:51:19.10+104.60 s––
LMRLa Mourre814.417400:51:20.60+106.10 s––
EPFEsparros931.720700:51:33.20+118.70 s––
CVFCalvi931.916300:51:35.79+121.29 s––
Network BUC12 stations
BMRBaia Mare1348.69700:52:42.00+187.50 s––
SSRSusara1371.411200:52:32.00+177.50 s––
CJRCluj1397.010100:52:41.00+186.50 s––
CLOClosani1429.010900:52:40.00+185.50 s––
COZCozia1519.110600:52:58.00+203.50 s––
CMPCampulung1569.510500:52:59.00+204.50 s––
CVOCovasna1618.910100:53:12.00+217.50 s––
MLRMuntele Rosu1620.010300:53:09.00+214.50 s––
IASIasi1653.99500:53:12.00+217.50 s––
VRIVrincioaia1655.210000:53:10.00+215.50 s––
ISRIstrita1680.910300:53:15.00+220.50 s––
CFRCarcaliu1788.010100:53:27.00+232.50 s––
Bensberg seismic network (University of Cologne, Germany)9 stations
KLLKalltalsperre56.48800:49:44.00+9.50 s––
JUEJülich70.36300:49:47.00+12.50 s00:49:54.10+19.60 s7.10
MILMillendorf83.96100:49:49.01+14.51 s––
BERBergheim (org)87.26500:51:54.00+139.50 s––
SINSindorf87.26800:49:50.00+15.50 s––
STBSteinbachtalsperre93.99200:49:50.40+15.90 s––
BNSBensberg122.97200:49:55.10+20.60 s00:50:09.70+35.20 s14.60
BGGBurg Eltz137.710900:49:57.50+23.00 s––
KOEKöppel158.89700:49:59.90+25.40 s––
Network ZUR8 stations
ZULZurich-Lageren408.114800:50:32.10+57.60 s––
SAXSaentis468.714200:50:40.40+65.90 s––
LLSLinth-Limmern492.514700:50:43.30+68.80 s––
DIXGrande Dixence524.816400:50:45.28+70.78 s––
MMKMattmark540.215900:50:49.29+74.79 s––
VDLVal di Lei545.114600:50:50.60+76.10 s––
OSSOva Spin555.114000:50:51.29+76.79 s––
TMATamaro560.915200:50:52.00+77.50 s––
Network ROM7 stations
OROOropa585.516100:50:55.00+80.50 s––
SALSalo671.114400:51:08.00+93.50 s––
CTICastel Tesino682.313600:51:08.00+93.50 s––
VG1Voghera687.915600:51:07.00+92.50 s––
RBLRaibl754.512500:51:17.00+102.50 s––
MNSMontasola1067.614600:51:56.50+142.00 s––
AQUL'Aquila1099.814400:52:10.00+155.50 s––
Network DIAS6 stations
ETATara842.229000:51:23.60+109.10 s––
ECPCarnsore Point843.828600:51:23.50+109.00 s––
ECBCarrickbyrne874.428800:51:27.30+112.80 s––
DLELyons Estate878.929400:51:28.00+113.50 s––
DMUKingscourt921.529800:51:33.20+118.70 s––
DCNCroghan927.829400:51:34.10+119.60 s––
Dutch seismic network (KNMI)5 stations
ENNEPEN (Intl)32.76200:49:40.20+5.70 s00:49:43.60+9.10 s3.40
EPNEPEN32.76200:49:40.30+5.80 s––
DBNDe Bilt 8165.835200:50:01.60+27.10 s00:50:23.00+48.50 s21.40
WTSWinterswijk176.93000:50:02.20+27.70 s00:50:26.50+52.00 s24.30
WITWitteveen255.91800:50:12.09+37.59 s––
Network FUR5 stations
HOFHof43.811500:50:37.10+62.60 s––
GAPGarmisch-P.535.812900:50:48.89+74.39 s––
WETWettzell554.010400:50:50.10+75.60 s––
OGAObergurgl582.013400:50:55.39+80.89 s––
BHGBad Reichenhall626.311800:51:00.00+85.50 s––
Network STR5 stations
GWFGRAND WINTERSBERG238.114000:50:10.00+35.50 s––
STRStrasbourg279.5144–00:50:50.00+75.50 s–
ECHECHERY293.615500:50:17.19+42.69 s––
BAFBelacker328.816000:50:21.60+47.10 s––
ROFRoppe343.016200:50:23.19+48.69 s––
Network VIE5 stations
KMRKremsmunster687.811100:51:07.79+93.29 s––
KBAKoelnbreinsperre696.512100:51:08.59+94.09 s––
MOAMolln707.611300:51:08.90+94.40 s––
VKAVienna825.410400:51:23.30+108.80 s––
VIEVienna829.110400:51:24.60+110.10 s––
Network HEL4 stations
NURNurmijarvi1622.14000:52:58.00+203.50 s––
SUFSumiainen1831.33500:53:21.69+227.19 s––
KJFKajaani1994.73200:53:42.00+247.50 s––
SODSodankyla2200.32400:54:04.70+270.20 s––
Network MOS4 stations
PULPulkovo1861.54700:49:51.76+17.26 s––
OBNObninsk2130.66400:53:57.00+262.50 s––
MOSMoscow2198.86300:54:06.00+271.50 s––
TIKTiksi5735.42000:58:43.00+548.50 s––
Network TIR4 stations
SDAShkodra1433.712600:52:48.00+193.50 s––
KKSKukesi1484.612400:52:48.00+193.50 s––
PHPPeshkopia1517.312500:52:57.60+203.10 s––
KBNKorca1623.512700:53:04.59+210.09 s––
Network WAR4 stations
KSPKsiaz760.68400:51:15.30+100.80 s––
KRAKrakow1027.18800:51:49.00+134.50 s––
NIENiedzica1067.19200:51:54.00+139.50 s––
CYPChylin1248.68000:52:15.00+160.50 s––
Network BER3 stations
KONOKongsberg1037.01300:51:46.50+132.00 s––
KONKongsberg1037.013–00:53:22.50+228.00 s–
TROTromso2232.71400:50:12.80+38.30 s––
Network BRA3 stations
ZSTBratislava882.210300:51:32.00+117.50 s––
BRABratislava883.510400:49:58.34+23.84 s00:50:15.58+41.08 s17.24
SROSrobarova982.0104–00:53:34.29+239.79 s–
Network HFS3 stations
TBYTorsby1148.32100:51:59.50+145.00 s––
HFSHagfors1176.42300:52:02.70+148.20 s––
SLLStollet1200.02100:52:05.54+151.04 s––
Network OMPT3 stations
MLSMoulis916.620300:51:33.50+119.00 s––
OGEOgeu945.821100:51:35.89+121.39 s––
MADFMadeleine960.921200:51:36.89+122.39 s––
Network SKO3 stations
SKOSkopje1553.612200:52:55.50+201.00 s––
OHROhrid1584.112600:53:01.50+207.00 s––
VAYValandovo1671.612200:53:11.40+216.90 s––
Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Germany)2 stations
CLLCollm531.17900:50:46.89+72.39 s––
BRGBerggiesshubel595.18400:50:54.79+80.29 s––
Network BUD2 stations
BUDBudapest1045.610400:51:51.00+136.50 s––
PSZPiszkesteto1086.910100:51:57.00+142.50 s––
Network BYKL2 stations
BODBodaibo6339.73700:59:20.00+585.50 s––
ZAKZakamensk6386.84900:59:25.00+590.50 s––
Network CFF2 stations
PYMPetit Puy Manson573.420000:50:50.60+76.10 s––
SSBSaint Sauveur en R599.118700:50:54.20+79.70 s––
Network DNK2 stations
MUDMonsted U'grnd692.11900:51:03.89+89.39 s––
COPCopenhagen727.93700:51:10.00+95.50 s––
German Regional Seismic Network (BGR, Germany)2 stations
HAMHAMBURG437.14200:50:35.00+60.50 s––
FURFUERSTENFELDBRUCK499.712100:50:44.00+69.50 s––
Network JCK2 stations
JCKJACKERATH79.05500:49:47.80+13.30 s00:49:57.50+23.00 s9.70
PLHPULHEIM101.16500:49:51.80+17.30 s00:50:04.20+29.70 s12.40
Network LEDBW2 stations
HEIHeidelberg267.711900:50:13.80+39.30 s––
FELFeldberg356.014800:50:24.90+50.40 s––
Network LJU2 stations
LJULjubljana839.412400:51:27.00+112.50 s––
CEYCerknica856.112600:51:29.39+114.89 s––
Network MDD2 stations
LGRLogrono1095.421700:51:57.20+142.70 s––
TOLToledo1408.121600:52:32.00+177.50 s––
Network PRU2 stations
KHCKasperske Hory602.610300:50:56.39+81.89 s––
PRUPruhonice646.59300:51:02.70+88.20 s––
Network SZGRF2 stations
GRFOGrafenberg420.710200:50:33.00+58.50 s––
GRC1Grafenberg Array468.711000:50:39.39+64.89 s––
Network UPP2 stations
UPPUppsala1280.13200:52:16.19+161.69 s––
UMEUmea1707.52500:53:08.80+214.30 s––
Network AAA1 station
SEMSemipalatinsk5064.06000:57:56.00+501.50 s––
Network ASL1 station
ALQAlbuquerque8430.130801:01:23.00+708.50 s––
Network BEO1 station
BEOBelgrade1290.011400:52:22.89+168.39 s––
British Geological Survey (United Kingdom)1 station
CWFCHARNWOOD FOREST526.729900:50:46.00+71.50 s––
Network BNG1 station
BNGBangui5263.516200:58:09.00+514.50 s––
Network CDR1 station
CDRCadarache773.217800:51:15.80+101.30 s––
Network EKA1 station
EKAEskdalemuir Array782.331500:51:17.19+102.69 s––
Network FR1 station
ABHAlteburg167.011900:50:01.40+26.90 s––
Network JEN1 station
MOXMoxa431.58700:50:34.19+59.69 s––
Network KEV1 station
KEVKevo2411.62000:54:25.00+290.50 s––
Network KRW1 station
BUHBUEHLERHOEHE292.513700:50:17.60+43.10 s––
Network LVV1 station
UZHUzhgorod1229.59400:52:18.00+163.50 s––
Network MOLD1 station
KISKishinev1750.59400:53:20.00+225.50 s––
Network NAO1 station
NB2NORSAR Subarray 2B1211.91500:52:07.00+152.50 s––
Network NEIC1 station
COLCollege Outpost6988.334801:00:03.00+628.50 s––
Network OMTP1 station
ATEArette962.321200:51:40.50+126.00 s––
Network PDG1 station
TTGPodgorica1389.812600:52:41.00+186.50 s––
Network PRA1 station
PRAPrague637.49200:51:01.00+86.50 s––
Network STU1 station
STUSTUTTGART336.212600:50:22.10+47.60 s––
Network TIF1 station
BKRBakuriani3056.39400:55:26.30+351.80 s––
Network TRI1 station
TRITrieste821.112900:51:23.89+109.39 s––
Network TUL1 station
BHOBethel7801.230001:00:47.60+673.10 s––
Network YARS1 station
YAKYakutsk6577.62700:59:36.50+602.00 s––
Network not specified17 stations
WEHWehebachtal62.47600:49:44.75+10.25 s00:49:52.15+17.65 s7.40
WASWassenberg69.54000:49:46.36+11.86 s00:49:55.92+21.42 s9.56
KIRKIRCHSTRASSE BERGHEIM87.46500:53:52.79+258.29 s––
KREKrefeld (Geol NRW)107.04200:49:52.30+17.80 s––
CDFCONSDORF108.014700:50:15.08+40.58 s00:50:43.90+69.40 s28.82
BERDKleiner Bermel118.710800:49:54.65+20.15 s00:50:10.25+35.75 s15.60
OCHOCHTENDUNG135.110200:49:57.31+22.81 s––
ELGlasserg137.810900:49:57.48+22.98 s––
BIRBoering151.013200:49:59.50+25.00 s––
BOCBOCHUM152.95100:49:59.20+24.70 s––
KLTKalmit234.712700:50:09.50+35.00 s––
ROSros ?245.711200:50:10.90+36.40 s––
GRCGarchy411.420700:50:31.39+56.89 s––
MAYMayen (Bernardshof)832.48800:49:56.07+21.57 s00:50:11.10+36.60 s15.03
FIRFirenze876.814800:51:32.00+117.50 s––
EBREbro Roquetas1157.320200:52:10.00+155.50 s––
APPAppelbo1222.12200:52:08.25+153.75 s––
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