Earthquake scenarios show the possible effects of earthquakes. They are an important element of earthquake preparedness and help the population, authorities and the economy to be better prepared for earthquakes and their possible impacts.
Such scenarios can be used to illustrate the impacts to be expected today from historical damaging earthquakes in Switzerland or the impacts of future earthquakes. However, severe earthquakes could in theory occur anywhere. The SED therefore provides a scenario for a damaging magnitude-6 earthquake for every cantonal capital and one other locality in each canton. Such an earthquake happens on average every 50 to 150 years somewhere in Switzerland or its neighbouring regions.