Liechtenstein Parliament Rocked By Quake
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
VADUZ (Worthy News) – Liechtenstein’s parliamentary session on whether the tiny European nation needs to mandate insurance in the event of quakes has been interrupted by…an earthquake.
Footage of Thursday’s gathering of the legislature, known as the Landtag, showed how two tremors were felt in the parliament building within a matter of seconds.
The first earthquake drew a smile from FBP lawmaker Bettina Petzold-Mähr, who had been speaking.
The second, more significant tremor shook the building more violently, prompting the President of the Landtag, Albert Frick, to temporarily halt the session and evacuate the chamber.
“This is getting a bit much; you never know if there’ll be aftershocks,” Frick said, announcing a 15-minute recess.
Records by the German Research Centre for Geosciences showed a magnitude 4 earthquake hit Liechtenstein, sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, Thursday afternoon.
Liechtenstein police said they received many phone calls from concerned citizens but added that no injuries or damage were reported and gave a magnitude of 3.9 for the quake.
The earthquakes were reportedly felt in parts of Austria and Switzerland, as well as the southern German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
In October 2020, Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir was interrupted during a press interview when a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit the nation.
Earlier that year, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was interrupted by an earthquake during a live television interview.
Wealthy Liechtenstein has a population of just under 39,000 and a surface area of 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), making it slightly smaller than Washington, D.C.
It has been known for its picture-perfect Alpine surroundings and favorable banking and tax regime.