Avignon: geology and natural hazards

Seismic zone

3 of 5 (moderate)

Radon potential

Category 1 of 3 (low potential)

Recognised natural disasters

23 since 1982

Underground cavities recorded

None

Ground movements recorded

1

Risk prevention plans

3

Natural and technological hazards to which the commune is exposed, according to the national GASPAR database.

• Inondation: par une crue à débordement lent de cours d’eau
• Mouvement de terrain: eboulement ou chutes de pierres et de blocs, tassements différentiels
• Séisme
• Feu de forêt
• Risque industriel: effet de surpression
• Rupture de barrage
• Transport de marchandises dangereuses

23 events recognised as a natural disaster by ministerial order since 1982.

• Inondations et/ou coulées de boue: 18
• Sécheresse: 5
• Tempête: 1

1. Sécheresse

   Event from 01/04/2023 to 31/12/2023, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/07/2024.

2. Sécheresse

   Event from 01/04/2022 to 30/09/2022, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/05/2023.

3. Sécheresse

   Event from 01/04/2021 to 30/06/2021, order published in the Journal officiel on 12/10/2022.

4. Sécheresse

   Event from 01/04/2019 to 30/09/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/07/2020.

5. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

   Event on 09/08/2018, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/11/2018.

6. Sécheresse

   Event from 01/01/2018 to 31/03/2018, order published in the Journal officiel on 09/08/2019.

7. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

   Event from 06/09/2010 to 08/09/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/01/2011.

8. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

   Event from 01/12/2003 to 04/12/2003, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/12/2003.

9. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

   Event from 25/11/2002 to 28/11/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/01/2003.

10. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 16/11/2002 to 18/11/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/01/2003.

11. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 08/09/2002 to 09/09/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 20/09/2002.

12. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 31/05/1998, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/01/1999.

13. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 13/11/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 01/06/1997.

14. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/1994 to 06/11/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/11/1994.

15. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 06/01/1994 to 12/01/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/02/1994.

16. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 08/10/1993 to 22/10/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 15/12/1993.

17. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 24/08/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 21/01/1994.

18. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 21/09/1992 to 23/09/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/10/1992.

19. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 08/07/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 27/02/1993.

20. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 30/07/1991 to 31/07/1991, order published in the Journal officiel on 05/02/1992.

21. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 12/10/1990 to 13/10/1990, order published in the Journal officiel on 17/04/1991.

22. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 26/08/1986, order published in the Journal officiel on 20/11/1986.

23. Tempête, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 06/11/1982 to 10/11/1982, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/12/1982.

Seismic zone

Zone 3 of 5: moderate. This regulatory zoning, in force since 2011, sets the rules for earthquake-resistant construction.

Radon potential

Category 1 of 3: low potential. The geological formations have the lowest uranium content. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up in poorly ventilated rooms.

What BRGM maps say at the town hall. They describe that single point: elsewhere in the commune, the ground may be quite different.

• Shrink-swell clays

• Rising groundwater

• Underground cavities

• Ground movements

• Earthquakes

• Nature of the ground

Recorded across the whole commune by BRGM, in its national databases of underground cavities and ground movements.

No underground cavity recorded (quarries, cellars, military works, natural cavities…).

1 ground movement recorded (landslides, rockfalls, collapses, mudflows…).

See cavities and ground movements on the map

• PPR Durance

  Natural risk prevention plan.

• PPRN-I Rhône [ Avignon ] Révision 1

  Natural risk prevention plan, under revision.

• PPRT - Eurenco [ Sorgues ] 2013

  Technological risk prevention plan.

The zoning and regulations of each plan, which may prohibit or restrict building, can be consulted at the town hall and on Géorisques.

• Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (30)
• Les Angles (30)
• Le Pontet (84)
• Rognonas (13)
• Pujaut (30)
• Barbentane (13)
• Morières-lès-Avignon (84)
• Sauveterre (30)

Listed hazards, natural disasters, seismic zoning, radon potential, cavities, ground movements and prevention plans: Géorisques, published by the French ministry for the ecological transition, under Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0, data accessed on 02/11/2026. Summary beneath the town hall: BRGM map services, queried when the page is displayed. List of communes and populations: API Découpage administratif (geo.api.gouv.fr), d’après le code officiel géographique de l’Insee, version of 30/10/2026.

This information reflects the state of knowledge at the scale of the commune or of a single point. It replaces neither a soil survey nor the official risk statement (état des risques) required for a sale or a rental, which is drawn up on the official French government service.