Table 3 Summary of the 1855 event near Visp

Location

Name

CHX

CHY

Lat.

Lon.

Visp (VS)

631,735

119,923

46.32

7.85

Date/time (UTC)

July 25, 1855

11:50 a.m.

Intensity

Epicentral intensity (Io): VIII

Maximum intensity (Ix): VIII

Magnitude (Mw)

6.2

Effects

Primary: known

Secondary: known

Level of documentation

This is an outstandingly well-documented event, particularly with respect to primary effects, since a contemporary damage assessment is preserved completely. In combination with available statistical data (population, building stock and prizes) a quantification of the losses was feasible

Remarks

Strong aftershock on July 26, 1855 (Io: VIII, Ix: VIII) caused further primary effects and triggered mass movements. Epicenter at 634,050/119,935 (46.23/7.88)

For historic sources and quotations see Online Resource 1 and Fritsche (2008)

References

Fritsche et al. 2006

Fritsche 2008

Gisler et al. 2008b

Gisler and Fäh 2011