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Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04)

Manosque: geology and natural hazards

What public services say about the ground beneath the commune (population 22,718) and the hazards it faces: natural disasters, earthquakes, radon, cavities, clays, groundwater and rocks.

Hazard names and other data are quoted as their producers publish them, in French.

Explore the commune on the map

Manosque at a glance

Seismic zone
4 of 5 (medium)
Radon potential
Category 2 of 3 (low potential, with aggravating factors)
Recognised natural disasters
27 since 1987
Underground cavities recorded
None
Ground movements recorded
2
Risk prevention plans
3

Hazards listed by the French State

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

  • Inondation
  • Mouvement de terrain: affaissements et effondrements d’origine anthropique (anciennes carrières souterraines, hors mines), eboulement ou chutes de pierres et de blocs, glissement de terrain, tassements différentiels
  • Séisme
  • Feu de forêt
  • Risque industriel
  • Rupture de barrage
  • Transport de marchandises dangereuses
  • Affaissement minier

Recognised natural disasters

27 events recognised as a natural disaster by ministerial order since 1987.

  • Sécheresse: 16
  • Inondations et/ou coulées de boue: 9
  • Glissement de terrain: 1
  • Mouvement de terrain: 1

  1. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/2023 to 30/06/2023, 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. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 01/12/2019 to 02/12/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/12/2019.

  4. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 23/11/2019 to 25/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/03/2020.

  5. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 23/11/2019 to 24/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 12/06/2020.

  6. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 09/07/2017, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/11/2017.

  7. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2017 to 30/09/2017, order published in the Journal officiel on 05/07/2018.

  8. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 21/11/2016 to 22/11/2016, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/07/2017.

  9. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2016 to 30/09/2016, order published in the Journal officiel on 01/09/2017.

  10. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/2014 to 30/06/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/07/2015.

  11. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2012 to 30/09/2012, order published in the Journal officiel on 11/07/2013.

  12. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/2011 to 06/11/2011, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/11/2011.

  13. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2008 to 31/03/2008, order published in the Journal officiel on 21/10/2009.

  14. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2007 to 31/03/2007, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/12/2008.

  15. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2005 to 31/03/2005, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/05/2008.

  16. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2002 to 30/06/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/07/2004.

  17. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/09/1998 to 30/09/1999, order published in the Journal officiel on 18/01/2002.

  18. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/1996 to 31/08/1998, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/05/1999.

  19. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 05/01/1994 to 08/01/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/02/1994.

  20. Glissement de terrain

    Event from 05/01/1994 to 08/01/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 20/11/1994.

  21. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/09/1993 to 30/06/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/05/1997.

  22. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/1992 to 31/08/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 09/07/1994.

  23. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/10/1990 to 31/03/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/02/1993.

  24. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 01/08/1990, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/02/1991.

  25. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 31/07/1990, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/02/1991.

  26. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/05/1989 to 30/09/1990, order published in the Journal officiel on 17/04/1991.

  27. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 23/08/1987 to 24/08/1987, order published in the Journal officiel on 16/01/1988.

Earthquakes and radon

Seismic zone

Zone 4 of 5: medium. This regulatory zoning, in force since 2011, sets the rules for earthquake-resistant construction.

Radon potential

Category 2 of 3: low potential, with aggravating factors. Geological features (faults, mine workings, thermal springs) can make it easier for radon to reach buildings. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up in poorly ventilated rooms.

Beneath the town hall

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

Cavities and ground movements

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…).

2 ground movements recorded (landslides, rockfalls, collapses, mudflows…).

See cavities and ground movements on the map

Risk prevention plans

  • PPRN-Multi - Manosque 2016 Révision 1 [ MOD 1 - 2022 ]

    Natural risk prevention plan, under revision.

  • PPRN-IF– Manosque 2016 Révision 1 [ MOD 1 – 2022 ]

    Natural risk prevention plan, under revision.

  • PPRT - Géosel - Géoméhane [ Manosque ] 2019

    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.

Nearby communes

Sources and limitations

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.