Measuring 6.2 on the surface-wave magnitude scale, it is the largest ever recorded earthquake in metropolitan France.

[4] A total of 46 people died, another 250 were injured, and approximately 2,000 buildings were damaged.

Fourteen people died in Rognes,[5] which was half destroyed, especially the houses on the flanks of the hill Le Foussa.

People were relocated under tents on another hill (Le Devin) and near the primary school.

If the earthquake had happened an hour later, more people would have been in bed, and more casualties would have been recorded.