Calabria trembles: earthquake of magnitude 3.5 in the night in Cittanova

Fear in the Reggio area, no victims but minor damage to buildings

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake shook the province of Reggio Calabria in the night between Friday 19 and Saturday 20 April 2024. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) located the epicenter 4 km south of Cittanova, at a depth of 14 km.

The main shock, which occurred at 4.05 am, was distinctly felt in a large area of ​​southern Calabria and north-eastern Sicily, from the Ionian coast to the Tyrrhenian coast. Moments of fear for the population, but fortunately no victims were recorded. Minor damage was reported to some buildings in Cittanova, Taurianova and Ardore, where checks were carried out by firefighters and technicians.

After the main shock, two other tremors of lesser intensity occurred: one of magnitude 2.7 at 4.17 am and one of magnitude 1.1 at 4.24 am.

The area is subject to seismicity, and INGV constantly monitors the situation through its seismic network.

Seismic shocks in Italy

Italy is a country with high seismicity, located in a complex geological area. Thousands of seismic tremors occur every year, most of which are minor. However, stronger events can cause extensive damage and casualties.

It is important to remember that Italy is equipped with an efficient Civil Protection system that is capable of managing seismic emergencies. It is also essential that people are informed about seismic risks and know how to behave in the event of an earthquake.