Earthquake Information for Italy

Earthquake Information for Italy

List of Significant Earthquakes in Italy

Lista dei terremoti più importanti in Italia

Date Location Magnitude Comments

11 05 1659 Italy Over 2,000 killed. Damage severe.

01 11 1693 Sicily 60,000 deaths

11 03 1706 Italy This violent earthquake killed 15,000 inhabitants.

02 04 1783 Calabria

50,000 morti. Uno dei terremoti più catastrofici nel mondo. Una serie di sei terribili forti terremoti, nello spazio di sei mesi, causarono enormi danni. Le consequenze furono vissute in aree localizzate: mentre alcune torri piombarono a terra distruggendosi altre vicine ebbero solo danni minori. Un immenso numero di persone persero la vita con gravissimi danni alle cose. I terremoti furono oggetto di studio da parte di diversi gruppi di studiosi, tra cui uno studio della prima Commisione Terremoto apposta nominata. Inizio così l'interesse scientifico verso la realizzazione di apparecchiature che registrassero i terremoti nell'Italia del XVIII Secolo. Questo fu il primo terremoto che fu studiato scientificamente. 50,000 deaths. One of the world's most destructive earthquakes. A series of six strong earthquakes, occurring over a two-month period, caused massive destruction. Their effects were localized; while some towers were leveled, others nearby sustained only minor damage. Loss of life and property was enormous. The earthquakes were the subject of several detailed investigations, including a study by the first appointed "Earthquake Commission." The Calabrian earthquakes of 1783 were responsible for a great surge of interest in the construction of seismic recording instruments in eighteenth-century Italy. This was the first earthquake to be investigated scientifically.

07 28 1883 Ischia 6 The thermal resort of Casamicciola was devastated by this earthquake. Over 2,000 were killed, over 1,200 houses were destroyed.

09 08 1905 Calabria 7.9 2,500 deaths

12 28 1908 Messina 7.2 Estimated 70,000 to 100,000 deaths. Deaths from earthquake and tsunami.

01 13 1915 Avezzano 7.5 29,980 deaths

09 07 1920 Toscana, Garfagnana 6.4 Damage in the Lunigiana and Garfagnana Valleys. 650 people were injured. The quake was felt from the Cote d'Azur, France to Friuli, throughout Toscana (Tuscany) and into Umbria and Marche. The number of casualties was reduced because many workers were already out in the farms when the quake struck and a foreshock the day before had alerted the people.

07 23 1930 Italy 6.5 1,430 deaths

02 06 1971 Central Italy 4.6 This earthquake occurred near Tuscania, Italy. It left 20 dead, over 100 injured, and about 5,000 homeless. It was reported that the medieval section of Tuscania, a city of 8,000, located 50 miles northwest of Rome, was practically leveled, and 60 percent of the city's buildings destroyed. Among those structures sustaining serious damage were the 8th century St. Peter's Church and the 12th century Basilica of St. Mary Major, both recently restored. The heavy damage sustained was due to the shallow depth of the earthquake and poorly constructed buildings.

02 04 1972 Central Italy 4.8 A series of hundreds of relatively minor shocks near the Italian town of Ancona on the Adriatic coast caused wide-spread panic, some damage, several injuries, and one death. This was the largest of the shocks. It sent thousands of people fleeing to the countryside. Police estimated that only about 10,000 people from a population of 100,000 remained in town. Most people found shelter in tents, railway coaches, and buses on the outskirts as shocks continued for several days. Terrified prisoners were transferred to jails in other cities. Damage was reported to 150 buildings with intensities reaching VIII on the Mercalli scale toppling roofs and cracking walls. A schoolteacher died of a heart attack and several other people were stricken.

05 06 1976 Northeastern Italy 6.5 1,000 reported killed, at least 1,700 injured, and extensive damage in the epicentral area. The quake was reported felt throughout Europe. A magnitude 4.6 foreshock preceded the main shock by about 1 minute and 7 seconds. The main shock was followed by a number of aftershocks, at least one reaching a magnitude of 5, that caused additional damage and injuries.

09 15 1980 Northeastern Italy 6.0
5.9 Aftershocks of the May 6, 1976 earthquake. These earthquakes occurred within 6 hours of each other. Eleven reported killed, some injured, and caused extensive damage in the already stricken area, leaving an additional 20,000 people homeless. The earthquakes were also felt sharply throughout central Europe.

11 23 1980 Southern Italy 7.2 Over 3,000 people killed, about 1,900 missing, 7,750 injured, 250,000 homeless and extensive damage in a 25,000 square kilometer area of Campania and Basilicata.

04 29 1984 Central Italy 5.3 Thirty-six people injured and extensive damage (VIII) in the Assisi-Gubbio-Perugia area. About 7,500 people homeless. Felt strongly in central Italy.

09 26 1997 Central Italy 5.7
6.0 As a result of these earthquakes, a total of eleven people killed, more than 100 injured and about 80,000 homes destroyed or damaged in the Marche and Umbria regions. Maximum intensity (X) at Serravalle di Chienti and (IX) at Valtopina. Extensive damage to the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi. Felt in many parts of central and northern Italy from Bologna and Modena to Rome. Felt (IV) in western and central Slovenia and (III) in southern Karnten Province, Austria.

10 03 1997 Central Italy 5.3 About 20 people injured and additional damage (VII) in the Marche and Umbria regions. Additional damage to the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi. Felt at Rome.

10 06 1997 Central Italy 6.4 Four people injured and additional damage (VIII) in the Assisi, Foligno, Gualdo Tadino and Nocera Umbra areas. Felt from Arezzo to parts of Lazio.

10 14 1997 Central Italy 5.5 One person injured and additional damage (VIII) in the Assisi-Perugia-Foligno area. Slight damage at Rome. Felt as far south as Naples.

04 26 1998 Central Italy 5.4 One person died of a heart attack at Perugia. Additional minor damage (VII) to buildings weakened by earthquakes of September 26, 1997 and their aftershocks. Damage occurred at Camerino, Sant Ippolito and Urbino. Felt from Bologna to Rome. Felt (IV) at Ljubljana, Slovenia and felt throughout Slovenia. Also felt in parts of Salzburg and Tirol, Austria.

04 03 1998 Central Italy 5.2 Five people slightly injured and 300 houses damaged or destroyed in the Gualdo Tadino-Nocera Umbra area. Additional damage to a castle at Foligno. Felt strongly at Assisi. Felt as far south as Rome. Also felt (IV) at Koper, Slovenia.

09 09 1998 Southern Italy 5.6 One person killed by falling rock, another person died from a heart attack, at least 12 people injured and many buildings damaged in the Castelluccio Inferiore-Lauria Inferiore area. Felt from Naples to Reggio di Calabria.

07 17 2001 Northern Italy 4.7 Two people killed and one person missing and presumed killed by landslides near Gargazzone and Val D'Ultimo. One person died of a heart attack at Bolzano. At least 3 people injured and minor damage in the Merano area. Felt throughout northeastern Italy as far south as Venice. Also felt in Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and southern Germany.

09 06 2002 Sicily Italy 5.9 Two people died from heart attacks, twenty injured and some buildings damaged in the Palermo area. Also felt at Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina and Trapani.

Date	Location	Magnitude		Comments
11 05 1659	Italy			Over 2,000 killed. Damage severe.
01 11 1693	Sicily			60,000 deaths
11 03 1706	Italy			This violent earthquake killed 15,000 inhabitants.
02 04 1783	Calabria		50,000 morti. Uno dei terremoti più catastrofici nel mondo. Una serie di sei terribili forti terremoti, nello spazio di sei mesi, causarono enormi danni. Le consequenze furono vissute in aree localizzate: mentre alcune torri piombarono a terra distruggendosi altre vicine ebbero solo danni minori. Un immenso numero di persone persero la vita con gravissimi danni alle cose. I terremoti furono oggetto di studio da parte di diversi gruppi di studiosi, tra cui uno studio della prima Commisione Terremoto apposta nominata. Inizio così l'interesse scientifico verso la realizzazione di apparecchiature che registrassero i terremoti nell'Italia del XVIII Secolo. Questo fu il primo terremoto che fu studiato scientificamente.	50,000 deaths. One of the world's most destructive earthquakes. A series of six strong earthquakes, occurring over a two-month period, caused massive destruction. Their effects were localized; while some towers were leveled, others nearby sustained only minor damage. Loss of life and property was enormous. The earthquakes were the subject of several detailed investigations, including a study by the first appointed "Earthquake Commission." The Calabrian earthquakes of 1783 were responsible for a great surge of interest in the construction of seismic recording instruments in eighteenth-century Italy. This was the first earthquake to be investigated scientifically.
07 28 1883	Ischia	6		The thermal resort of Casamicciola was devastated by this earthquake. Over 2,000 were killed, over 1,200 houses were destroyed.
09 08 1905	Calabria	7.9		2,500 deaths
12 28 1908	Messina	7.2		Estimated 70,000 to 100,000 deaths. Deaths from earthquake and tsunami.
01 13 1915	Avezzano	7.5		29,980 deaths
09 07 1920	Toscana, Garfagnana	6.4		Damage in the Lunigiana and Garfagnana Valleys. 650 people were injured. The quake was felt from the Cote d'Azur, France to Friuli, throughout Toscana (Tuscany) and into Umbria and Marche. The number of casualties was reduced because many workers were already out in the farms when the quake struck and a foreshock the day before had alerted the people.
07 23 1930	Italy	6.5		1,430 deaths
02 06 1971	Central Italy	4.6		This earthquake occurred near Tuscania, Italy. It left 20 dead, over 100 injured, and about 5,000 homeless. It was reported that the medieval section of Tuscania, a city of 8,000, located 50 miles northwest of Rome, was practically leveled, and 60 percent of the city's buildings destroyed. Among those structures sustaining serious damage were the 8th century St. Peter's Church and the 12th century Basilica of St. Mary Major, both recently restored. The heavy damage sustained was due to the shallow depth of the earthquake and poorly constructed buildings.
02 04 1972	Central Italy	4.8		A series of hundreds of relatively minor shocks near the Italian town of Ancona on the Adriatic coast caused wide-spread panic, some damage, several injuries, and one death. This was the largest of the shocks. It sent thousands of people fleeing to the countryside. Police estimated that only about 10,000 people from a population of 100,000 remained in town. Most people found shelter in tents, railway coaches, and buses on the outskirts as shocks continued for several days. Terrified prisoners were transferred to jails in other cities. Damage was reported to 150 buildings with intensities reaching VIII on the Mercalli scale toppling roofs and cracking walls. A schoolteacher died of a heart attack and several other people were stricken.
05 06 1976	Northeastern Italy	6.5		1,000 reported killed, at least 1,700 injured, and extensive damage in the epicentral area. The quake was reported felt throughout Europe. A magnitude 4.6 foreshock preceded the main shock by about 1 minute and 7 seconds. The main shock was followed by a number of aftershocks, at least one reaching a magnitude of 5, that caused additional damage and injuries.
09 15 1980	Northeastern Italy	6.0 5.9		Aftershocks of the May 6, 1976 earthquake. These earthquakes occurred within 6 hours of each other. Eleven reported killed, some injured, and caused extensive damage in the already stricken area, leaving an additional 20,000 people homeless. The earthquakes were also felt sharply throughout central Europe.
11 23 1980	Southern Italy	7.2		Over 3,000 people killed, about 1,900 missing, 7,750 injured, 250,000 homeless and extensive damage in a 25,000 square kilometer area of Campania and Basilicata.
04 29 1984	Central Italy	5.3		Thirty-six people injured and extensive damage (VIII) in the Assisi-Gubbio-Perugia area. About 7,500 people homeless. Felt strongly in central Italy.
09 26 1997	Central Italy	5.7 6.0		As a result of these earthquakes, a total of eleven people killed, more than 100 injured and about 80,000 homes destroyed or damaged in the Marche and Umbria regions. Maximum intensity (X) at Serravalle di Chienti and (IX) at Valtopina. Extensive damage to the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi. Felt in many parts of central and northern Italy from Bologna and Modena to Rome. Felt (IV) in western and central Slovenia and (III) in southern Karnten Province, Austria.
10 03 1997	Central Italy	5.3		About 20 people injured and additional damage (VII) in the Marche and Umbria regions. Additional damage to the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi. Felt at Rome.
10 06 1997	Central Italy	6.4		Four people injured and additional damage (VIII) in the Assisi, Foligno, Gualdo Tadino and Nocera Umbra areas. Felt from Arezzo to parts of Lazio.
10 14 1997	Central Italy	5.5		One person injured and additional damage (VIII) in the Assisi-Perugia-Foligno area. Slight damage at Rome. Felt as far south as Naples.
04 26 1998	Central Italy	5.4		One person died of a heart attack at Perugia. Additional minor damage (VII) to buildings weakened by earthquakes of September 26, 1997 and their aftershocks. Damage occurred at Camerino, Sant Ippolito and Urbino. Felt from Bologna to Rome. Felt (IV) at Ljubljana, Slovenia and felt throughout Slovenia. Also felt in parts of Salzburg and Tirol, Austria.
04 03 1998	Central Italy	5.2		Five people slightly injured and 300 houses damaged or destroyed in the Gualdo Tadino-Nocera Umbra area. Additional damage to a castle at Foligno. Felt strongly at Assisi. Felt as far south as Rome. Also felt (IV) at Koper, Slovenia.
09 09 1998	Southern Italy	5.6		One person killed by falling rock, another person died from a heart attack, at least 12 people injured and many buildings damaged in the Castelluccio Inferiore-Lauria Inferiore area. Felt from Naples to Reggio di Calabria.
07 17 2001	Northern Italy	4.7		Two people killed and one person missing and presumed killed by landslides near Gargazzone and Val D'Ultimo. One person died of a heart attack at Bolzano. At least 3 people injured and minor damage in the Merano area. Felt throughout northeastern Italy as far south as Venice. Also felt in Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and southern Germany.
09 06 2002	Sicily Italy	5.9		Two people died from heart attacks, twenty injured and some buildings damaged in the Palermo area. Also felt at Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina and Trapani.

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