Quake shakes Vendée awake

An earthquake shook houses and woke residents in the Vendée in the early hours.

The 4.8 magnitude tremor struck shortly before 4.10am, 19 kilometres from Fontenay-le-Comte, according to the Réseau national de surveillance sismique (RéNass).

It was the biggest tremor in the west of France since the Charente was shaken by a 4.9 magnitude quake in 2016, and was felt 40km away in Deux-Sèvres.

Witnesses said that the rumbling lasted four or five seconds, while the quake prompted a number of residents to take to social media.

A local baker who was already up and working told Franceinfo that he thought a truck had crashed into his bakery, while the mayor of La Châtaigneraie, who was woken up by the quake, said he also feared a vehicle had hit a neighbouring house.

Seismologist Alessia Maggi told the broadcaster that the Vendee is in a region of France where 'moderate seismic activity' is expected. This level of quake occurs, on average once a year in France.

She added that aftershocks "of equivalent or even slightly greater magnitude" could not be ruled out.