The University of Malta's Seismic Monitoring & Research Group is inviting the public to come forward and recount their first-hand experience with the earthquake that struck the Maltese islands on the night of 21 March 1972.

As part of a research project by a local Geosciences student named Sarah Camilleri, the University is now revisiting this earthquake from a scientific and social point of view.

This group of researchers want people who remember experiencing this strong tremor nearly 54 years ago to fill out a short and anonymous online questionnaire. This survey is open to anyone who was in Malta at the time of the event.

Respondents who require further information or assistance to fill out the form may call the team at 23406189.

The 1972 earthquake had a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was recorded to be around 37 kilometres east of Malta. Occurring so close to the Maltese islands, hitting the nation a few minutes after 11pm that night, this earthquake caused immediate and widespread panic across the country, resulting in "countless people" spending the rest of the night in open spaces such as Ta' Qali.

No casualties were recorded from this tremor, though some damage was noted to surrounding infrastructure. According to the UM's Seismic Monitoring & Research Group, the 1972 earthquake sparked mass fear for any aftershocks or building collapse, resulting in mass evacuations.

It is aimed for people's feedback to help this team of researchers to see which locality felt the tremor most so that it may construct an intensity map of the event, over half a century later. The researchers also want to understand what motivated people's decision to sleep outdoors that night: whether this occurred through a spontaneous, collective reaction, or if this was prompted by any sort of official instruction.

People who were present for this natural event and remember what happened that evening are invited to fill in the questionnaire, which can be found here.