Source: O.Kulhånek and R. Wahlström,
Macroseismic observations in Sweden 1984-1990, page 20-21.
JULY 14, 1986, SKÖVDE, VÄSTERGÖTLAND
On July 14, 1986, one of the largest earthquakes in the Baltic Shield during this
century occurred near Skövde. The earthquake was followed by a series of artershocks
(see Holmqvist and Wahlström 1987), the largest taking place 55 minutes after the
main shock. The respective magnitudes of the main shock and the largest aftershock
were 4.5 and 3.4. A macroseismic study of the Skövde main shock shows that it was
felt in south-central Sweden over an area of 67 ,000 km2 (Fig. 11).
Information was collected from several hundreds of letters of inquiry to post officials,
interviews with residents in the area, newspaper articles, etc.
As can be seen in Fig. 11 available data delineate resonably well the outer limit
of the area over which the earthquake was generally perceptible.
Slight damage, such as cracks in walls and roofs, were reported from several sites.
A number of reports indiciate intensity of shaking V and at three localities the
reported intensity was at least V+ which we consider is the maximum in tensity.
The cited macroseismic parameters yield a focal depth of 26 km, only slightly less
than the instrumental arrival-time location (Arvidsson el al. 199Ib).
For details on the macroseismic data, the reader is referred to the
Seismological Department, Uppsala University.
The proximity in time of the large artershock, less than one hour arter the main shock,
makes an independent macroseismic evaluation unreliable.