Earthquake strikes Smolyan Municipality causing tremors in several villages on November 14

A series of earthquakes occurred in the Smolyan Municipality on November 14, 2026, causing tremors across several villages. The National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography (NIGGG) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) recorded the seismic event, which occurred at approximately 17:20. The epicenter was located between the villages of Vievo and Kutela. According to data from the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the event was felt 55 km south of Plovdiv.

Seismic Activity and Local Impact

The tremors were felt in the city of Smolyan and surrounding villages, including Momchilovtsi and Petkovo. Residents in the villages of Kutela and Momchilovtsi reported experiencing two distinct tremors within a ten-minute interval. Local officials described the impact on the community during the event. The mayor of Kutela, Sevdalina Markova, reported that the earthquake was serious, caused panic, and people went into the streets. The mayor of Momchilovtsi, Siyka Surkova, reported that the phone was overwhelmed with calls and that residents heard cracking sounds and were afraid.

In the village of Vievo, the mayor, Venko Palchev, reported that the earthquake involved horizontal movement and noted that residents felt two tremors in ten minutes. While the main event caused significant concern, no material damage or casualties have been reported as of the time of the reports. Social media reports indicated that the tremor was felt in several locations, including Chep rarely, Sokolovtsi, Momchilovtsi, Varbina, Podvis, Arda, Oryahovets, Madan, Chepintsi, Nedelino, Pamporovo, and Srednogortsi.

Data Discrepancies and Previous Activity

There are conflicting reports regarding the exact magnitude and depth of the earthquake. Bulgarian media reported a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale, while other sources reported a magnitude of 3.5 or 3.7. Regarding the depth of the event, some reports indicated the earthquake occurred at a depth of 12 km, while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported a depth of 2 km. The exact location of the epicenter is also a subject of debate, with reports placing it either between the villages of Vievo and Kutela or between Momchilovtsi and Vievo.

This seismic activity follows a previous, weaker event in the region. A tremor with a magnitude of 2.6 was recorded by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) approximately two to three weeks prior to the main event. This earlier tremor was also felt in the area, including the village of Vievo.

Glossary

• Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) — The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is an institution that carries out science and technology in Bulgaria. It receives the bulk of public R&D funding.
• Podvis — Podvis is a mine located north of Timok and Tresibaba. It features its own power plant and various workshops.