6.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Central Italy, Days after Tremors Hit North Italy

Amber Hancock-Burns
Staff Writer

     On Sunday, Oct. 30, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit Norcia in Central Italy, about 170 km (105 miles) northeast of Rome. This earthquake came only a few days after tremors in Northern Italy caused minor damage.
      Italy is an area in which the African and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and cause high amounts of tension. This tension causes faults that run along the “spine of Italy” in the Apennine Mountains. When these plates rub against each other, the faults do as well which causes movement of the land or earthquakes. 

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    There have not been any deaths reported since the earthquake in the early hours of Sunday morning, but around twenty-five people were injured. This is due to many residents of Norcia, Italy, the city affected the most, had not returned to their homes since the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in late August. In the days prior, the tremors throughout Italy gave warning of a larger earthquake that would occur soon and gave people time to evacuate their homes and towns. Over fifteen thousand people evacuated and are now living in tents and temporary places until they can return home.
      This earthquake also had widespread damage all throughout Central Italy. The town of Amatrice, one of the places which was severely damaged from the August earthquake, was almost completely leveled from Sunday’s. There was also damage from this earthquake in the Italian capital of Rome, about fifty five miles away, and as far north as the Alps.
     The Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, says that “Italy has many faults, and these situations bring out the best of us… We will rebuild everything. We have the resources to do so.” Schools in Rome and the towns surrounding it were closed on Monday in order to survey the damage. The Metro system also has been temporarily closed to prevent any more damage or injuries in the case of any tremors, or small earthquakes, occurring.
     A second earthquake measuring a magnitude of 5.0, which will only damage tall buildings, also hit the same area of Norcia early Thursday morning. Rescue and damage teams were sent out at the first sight of sunlight.