Italy earthquake today: 5.1 magnitude tremor hits Calabria; details of the damage
The southern coast of Italy was struck today by a geological event that raised concerns, as a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit the area off the coast of Calabria. This event serves as a reminder of the geologically active nature of the Mediterranean basin.
The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) announced in an official statement that the epicenter of the earthquake was precisely located approximately 20 kilometers off the southwestern coast of the Calabria region. The tremor was clearly felt by residents of coastal areas, prompting an immediate response from relevant authorities to assess the situation.
Civil Defense Report and Losses
Following the earthquake, the Italian Civil Protection Agency and fire departments quickly conducted a comprehensive survey of the areas near the epicenter. Officials confirmed that, fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, which reassured local residents.
Geological context: Why do earthquakes occur so frequently in Italy?
Italy is one of the most seismically active countries in Europe due to its complex geological location. The Italian peninsula lies at the meeting point of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Calabria region, in particular, where today's earthquake occurred, is a historically active geological arc, having experienced numerous earthquakes over the past decades that have become part of its natural history.
This ongoing activity constantly pushes Italian authorities to develop earthquake-resistant building standards and strengthen early warning systems, in order to reduce potential risks to the population and property in these vital areas.
Simultaneous seismic activity in Tajikistan
In a related context, monitoring the movement of the Earth's crust globally, the earthquake in Italy was not the only event recorded in the past few hours. Another earthquake struck the Republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia.
According to the Indian National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake in Tajikistan measured 5.3 on the Richter scale. It was recorded at 38.26 degrees north latitude and 73.42 degrees east longitude. What distinguished this earthquake was its considerable depth of 110 kilometers, a geological factor that often reduces the extent of surface damage compared to shallower earthquakes, despite their widespread impact.
