The documents that we have compiled (archives, newspaper reports and
seismic catalogues) enabled us to go back to the end of the 18th
century in the seismic history of Corsica. The number of felt earthquakes
(epicentres off shore or on the island) which were documented during
the two and a half centuries is relatively low. Maximum intensities
have reached VI or rarely VII. The seismic activity is mainly located
in the North-East of Corsica, near faults which have recently been
active between the ?Corse schisteuse' (Alpine domain) and the ?Plaine
Orientale' (Quaternary, Neogene). A seismic crisis happened recently
(1978?1979) in this area where present activity of some of these
faults has been suggested. Macroseismic studies have been conducted
for the main shocks (I max=VI and V) in order to locate them accurately.
Two among them (April 3, 1978 and March 27, 1979) are studied here
in detail. Using the Kövesligethy formula hypocenters are respectively
found at 4.5±0.5 km and around 5 km, whereas the corresponding absorption
factors are 0.020 and 0.031. Such depths show that the two events
affected the upper crust of Corsica (30 km).