Macroseismic Field of the Romanian Intermediate-Depth Earthquakes

Romania is a country of moderate seismicity, with 2–3 major earthquakes (M _w > 7) per century. These events occur at subcrustal depths (60 < h < 200 km), in a confined epicentral area (approximately 3,000 km2), located at the Eastern Carpathian Arc bend, in the Vrancea Mountains. There are only few seismic regions in the world with comparable focus isolation and persistence (e.g., Hindu Kush in Afganistan and Bucaramanga in Columbia). The large Vrancea earthquakes severely affect not only the Romanian territory, but also extended areas in the neighboring countries.