Figure 1:
![Geologic map of Kosovo ([8] adapted: own study).](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64737a3e4e662f30ba53f8da/j_sgem-2024-0015_fig_001.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA6AP2G7AKOUXAVR44%2F20251205%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251205T005722Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Signature=e06117d73fff5c9cb6ff22dfd5fe65b20d2f30791939f85027f4df30c478b6b8&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
Figure 2:
![Map of tectonic structures ([7], adapted: own study).](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64737a3e4e662f30ba53f8da/j_sgem-2024-0015_fig_002.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA6AP2G7AKOUXAVR44%2F20251205%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251205T005722Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Signature=83cb1241d0b940df0afc7ca505467e9bc31cdf8703105e5fbe3cfb3286570502&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
Figure 3:
![Seismogenic zones ([11] adapted: own study).](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64737a3e4e662f30ba53f8da/j_sgem-2024-0015_fig_003.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA6AP2G7AKOUXAVR44%2F20251205%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251205T005722Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Signature=43c8b9a98d7868a4a22e8b601ce6f5fcf2ac48a37e928b96c327f238b46d43c1&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
Figure 4:
![Magnitude distribution map according to earthquake catalog data, period 1456–2002, territory of Kosovo [21].](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64737a3e4e662f30ba53f8da/j_sgem-2024-0015_fig_004.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA6AP2G7AKOUXAVR44%2F20251205%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251205T005722Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Signature=66cf42b8a8b091e5e1e14fd8b3efad6dc972e0f102df49e66a0bdb32a7527349&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
Figure 5:
![Intensity distribution map according to earthquake catalog data, period 1456–2002, in the territory of Kosovo [21].](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64737a3e4e662f30ba53f8da/j_sgem-2024-0015_fig_005.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA6AP2G7AKOUXAVR44%2F20251205%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251205T005722Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Signature=815724d1e08a142eed2de73f69f9298941eb691b488408bfbe19d8f13a786cfe&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
Division by depth_
| Depth (km) | The range | Kosova | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | % | ||
| Till 60 | Small (little one) | 90 | 100 |
| 60–300 | Average | ||
| Up to 300 | Deep | ||
Richter scale of earthquake magnitude [10]_
| Magnitude level | Category | Effects | Earthquakes per year | Kosovo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1.0–2.9 | Micro | Generally not felt by people, though regorded on local instruments | More than 100,000 | |
| 3.0–3.9 | Minor | Felt by many people. No demage | 12,000 to 100,000 | |
| 4.0–4.9 | Light | Felt by all. Minor breakage of objects | 2000 to 12,000 | Light |
| 5.0–5.9 | Moderate | Some damage to weak structures | 200 to 2000 | Moderate |
| 6.0–6.9 | Strong | Moderate demage in populated areas | 20 to 200 | |
| 7.0–79 | Major | Serious damage over large areas. Loss of life | 3 to 20 | |
| >8.0 | Great | Severe destruction and loss of life over large areas | Fewer than 3 |
Magnitude, class, and description [20]_
| Magnitude | Class | Description | Kosovo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | % | |||
| >8 | Great | Significant damage expected | ||
| 7.0–7.9 | Major | Damage expected | ||
| 6.0–6.9 | Strong | Damage may occur | 5 | 3.55 |
| 5.0–5.9 | Moderate | Minor damage may occur | 14 | 9.93 |
| 4.0–4.9 | Light | Likely felt | 69 | 48.94 |
| 3.0–3.9 | Minor | May be felt | 53 | 37.59 |
Some statistical data_
| Statistics | Depth (km) | Magnitude | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 13.01 | 4.28 | 5.71 |
| Min | 3.00 | 3.80 | 5.00 |
| Max | 26.00 | 6.60 | 9.00 |
This division is given by the author [14]_
| Group | Magnitude | Kosovo | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 7.5 < M < 8.5 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Second | 6.5 < M < 7.5 | 1 | 0.71 |
| Third | 5.25 < M < 6.5 | 11 | 7.80 |
| Fourth | 4.25 < M < 5.2 | 39 | 27.66 |
| The fifth | 3.25 < M < 4.25 | 90 | 63.83 |
Number of earthquakes, intensity, and percentage of participation_
| No. of earthquakes | Intensity | % |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | 5 | 58.16 |
| 34 | 6 | 24.11 |
| 12 | 7 | 8.51 |
| 10 | 8 | 7.09 |
| 3 | 9 | 2.13 |
The most powerful earthquakes in Kosovo_
| City/locality | Month.day.year | Epicentral intensity (MMI scale, Pojani, 2003) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prizren | 06.16.1456 | 6.0 | Elezaj, 2002 |
| Pejë | 11.11.1662 | 8.0 | |
| Ferizaj | 02.26.1755 | 9.0 | |
| Ferizaj-Viti | 08.10.1921 | 9.0 | |
| Kopaonik | 05.18.1980 | 6.0 | Sulstarova et al, 2001; Orana et al., 1985; Elezaj, 2002. |
The modified Mercalli Intensity Scale used in the USA [20]_
| Intensity | Shaking | Description/damage | Kosovo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | % | |||
| I | Not felt | Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions | ||
| II | Weak | Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on the upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing | ||
| III | Weak | Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on the upper floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibration similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated | ||
| IV | Light | Felt indoors by many, felt outdoors by few during the day. At night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor cars rocked noticeably | ||
| V | Moderate | Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop | 82 | 58.16 |
| VI | Strong | Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight | 34 | 24.11 |
| VI | Very Strong | Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken | 12 | 8.51 |
| VII | Severe | Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned | 10 | 7.09 |
| IX | Violent | Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations | 3 | 2.13 |
| X | Extreme | Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rail bent | ||