Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake Shakes Semmering Region – Over 600 Reports Filed
Gloggnitz, July 25, 2026
AI-generated image (z-image via Kie.ai)
Summary
In the night leading into Friday, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake shook the region around the Semmering. By late morning, more than 600 reports and over 20 damage reports had been received by GeoSphere Austria.
Gloggnitz, July 25, 2026
In the night leading into Friday, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred in the border area between Lower Austria and Styria near the Semmering and was clearly felt by numerous residents.
Epicenter and Time of the Quake
The quake struck at 1:59 a.m. according to GeoSphere Austria. The epicenter was located eight kilometers southwest of Gloggnitz and 15 kilometers east of Mürzzuschlag. The magnitude was initially reported as 4.5, but was later corrected to 4.4.
A first smaller aftershock near Gloggnitz, measuring magnitude 2.1, followed already on Friday. Over the coming two weeks, seismologist Anton Vogelmann expects around ten to 20 measurable aftershocks, of which only one or two are likely to be actually felt.
Aftershocks and Forecast
Many people were jolted awake by the quake. A resident of Gloggnitz reported: "Es war ein Schreckmoment." NÖN staff member Gerhard Brandtner described: "Meine Frau und ich haben bereits geschlafen und wurden dann plötzlich von dem Grollen geweckt. Und es hat gefühlt 15 bis 20 Sekunden gedauert." He recalled: "Die Wände haben gebebt."
Numerous residents of Styria and Lower Austria also chimed in under GeoSphere's Facebook post within a short time. A person from near Hartberg wrote: "In der Nähe von Hartberg auch deutlich verspürt." A woman from Ilz reported: "8262 Ilz, bin dadurch wach geworden." From Stanz im Mürztal came: "Sehr deutlich gespürt … Bin dadurch wach geworden."
Reports from the Population
Possible damage was reported from Maria Schutz: "Maria Schutz stark gespürt und einige Risse im 2. Stock, sowie kaputte Gegenstände (Spiegel, …)." Residents from Marein im Mürztal wrote: "In 8241 deutlich spürbar gewesen" or "Grafendorf bei Hartberg deutlich gespürt."
Noticeably perceptible tremors were also reported from Pinkafeld, Neudörfl, Wiener Neustadt, Mollram, Kernhof, Trattenbach, Edlitz, and Spital am Semmering. A person from Fernitz wrote: "8072 Fernitz habe ich es auch bemerkt. Punkt 2 Uhr."
In isolated cases, the quake was also weakly felt in Vienna, as the warning service announced: "Es langten viele Bebenmeldungen von der Bevölkerung im Osten von Niederösterreich und der Steiermark ein." Reports came particularly frequently from eastern Styria and the Mürz Valley.
Possible Damage in the Epicentral Area
GeoSphere Austria informed: "Es kann bei dieser Magnitude im Epizentralbereich vereinzelt zu leichten Schäden kommen." By late morning, more than 600 reports and over 20 damage reports had been received by the authority.
Geologically, the region is known for earthquakes. The reason is the Mur-Mürz Fault, which is approximately 200 kilometers long and stretches from Muhr/St. Michael via the Mürz Valley and the Semmering into the Vienna Basin. This tectonic fracture zone is one of Austria's most active earthquake zones.
Geological Background: The Mur-Mürz Fault
Similarly strong quakes occurred in the region most recently on February 1, 2024 (magnitude 4.6 near the Semmering), as well as in 2023 and 2021 in the Gloggnitz and Neunkirchen area. Magnitudes of 4.2 and 4.5 were reached at that time. The strongest quake recorded to date in the Neunkirchen district occurred on March 16, 2021, in Neunkirchen, with a magnitude of 4.6.
Most recently, the earth has shaken with comparable strength in the Neunkirchen district in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Residents are therefore partly already familiar with seismic activity in the region.
Historical Quakes in the Region
GeoSphere Austria operates the earthquake service for Austria and monitors seismic activity in the country around the clock. Citizens can report their observations via GeoSphere's platform, which helps with the evaluation of the data.
Seismologist Anton Vogelmann explained that aftershocks are normal in the region. The probability of further perceptible tremors in the coming days exists, but is low.
Overall, the weekend's tally shows: no injuries, but property damage in individual buildings. The authorities are in contact with the affected communities.
Role of GeoSphere Austria
The Semmering region is a well-known tourism area between Lower Austria and Styria. Earthquakes of this magnitude are rare in Austria, but recurring in this geological zone.
For the coming days, GeoSphere Austria recommends being prepared for further aftershocks. Citizens are asked to report damaged buildings and exercise caution.
A magnitude of 4.5 corresponds to a quake that is clearly perceptible and can cause slight damage near the epicenter. Comparable quakes occur in Austria approximately every few years.
Earthquake monitoring in Austria is ensured by a network of seismographs that transmit data to GeoSphere in real time. This allows quakes to be quickly located and analyzed.
The public was informed about the quake via social media and GeoSphere's platforms. Numerous reports helped document the extent of the observations.
Overall, the event illustrates the tectonic activity along the Mur-Mürz Fault and the importance of well-functioning early warning and reporting systems in earthquake-prone regions of Austria.
Questions & Answers
When and where did the earthquake near the Semmering occur?
The earthquake occurred in the night leading into Friday at 1:59 a.m. in the border area between Lower Austria and Styria. The epicenter was eight kilometers southwest of Gloggnitz and 15 kilometers east of Mürzzuschlag.
How strong was the quake, and was there damage?
The magnitude was initially reported as 4.5, but was later corrected to 4.4. By late morning, more than 600 reports and over 20 damage reports had been received by GeoSphere Austria.
Who is seismologist Anton Vogelmann, and what does he say about aftershocks?
Anton Vogelmann is a seismologist who expects around ten to 20 measurable aftershocks over the coming two weeks, of which only one or two are likely to be actually felt.
