Copenhagen Shaken By Denmark's Strongest Tremor Since 2012

COPENHAGEN, May 21 (dpa) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 struck the area around Copenhagen on Wednesday afternoon, according to the website of the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). 

The epicentre of the quake was reported to be 28 kilometres south of the Danish capital.

The Ritzau news agency reported that the Copenhagen police received numerous calls from people who had been alarmed by the tremor. 

The Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan reported that the earthquake was also felt in the southern Swedish city of Malmö. 

"This is a relatively large quake, by both Danish and Swedish standards," seismologist Björn Lund from Uppsala University told Sydsvenskan.

The tremor was also felt in Odense on the Danish island of Funen, around 170 kilometres west of Copenhagen, the broadcaster DR reported. Initially, there were no reports of damage caused by the tremors.

Earthquakes are relatively rare in Denmark. Wednesday’s was the strongest in or near Denmark since 2012, when a 4.3-magnitude quake was recorded, according to the Danish Geological Survey (GEUS). 

An earthquake measuring 4.8 struck in Sweden in 2008, around 65 kilometres east of Copenhagen, and was also felt in the area around the city.

--NNN-dpa