Two earthquakes strike Smolyan municipality causing panic in local villages

Two earthquakes struck the Smolyan municipality on November 15, 2026, causing widespread panic among residents in local villages. The seismic activity, which included a significant second tremor, led many people to exit their homes due to fear. No casualties or material damage have been reported in the affected areas as of current reports.

Seismic activity details

The first earthquake was recorded at 17:10 with a magnitude of 2.6. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the epicenter of this first tremor was located approximately 10 kilometers north-northeast of Smolyan at a depth of about 2 kilometers. This initial tremor was followed approximately ten minutes later by a second earthquake.

Measurements for the magnitude of the second earthquake vary between different monitoring agencies. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported a magnitude of 3.5. However, BTA reported a magnitude of 3.7, while the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography (NIGGG) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences reported a magnitude of 3.2. The epicenter for this second earthquake was located in the area between the villages of Vievo and Kutela.

Impact on local communities

The seismic activity was felt in the town of Smolyan. Venko Palchev, the mayor of Vievo, reported that the second tremor was significantly stronger than the first tremor and involved horizontal movement. Local officials noted that the intensity of the shaking caused significant anxiety among residents.

Sevdalina Markova, the mayor of Kutela, reported that the earthquakes caused significant anxiety among residents, which led many people to exit their homes. Sika Surkova, the mayor of Momchilovtsi, reported that the municipality experienced multiple aftershocks following the strongest tremor. Sika Surkova also stated that the phone lines were overwhelmed with calls because residents were scared and reported hearing cracking sounds.

Historical seismic context

The current seismic events follow a period of relative stability in the region. A weak tremor was also felt in the village of Vievo approximately two to three weeks prior to the current events on November 15, 2026. Authorities continue to monitor the situation in the Smolyan municipality to ensure resident safety following the multiple tremors and subsequent aftershocks.

Glossary

• Momchilovtsi — Momchilovtsi is a Bulgarian village and ski resort located in the Central Rhodopes. It features an ethnographic museum, an art gallery, and several churches and chapels.
• European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre — The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre is an organization that works in cooperation with the Strasbourg secretariat. It is involved with the European Alert System, which is an earthquake disaster alert and rapid response system.
• Bulgarian Academy of Sciences — The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is an institution that includes the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography (NIGGG). It also operates a press.
• epicenter — The epicenter is the ground level located directly above the hypocenter or focus of a seismic event. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, it may cause the seabed to displace and trigger a tsunami.