Twelve earthquakes strike off Sicily coast triggering tsunami alert

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 13:58 · Archive

Twelve earthquakes hit off the coast of Sicily on Friday, with the largest measuring 5.0-magnitude, prompting a tsunami alert and school evacuations.

Twelve earthquakes struck off the coast of Sicily on Friday afternoon, with the largest reaching 5.0-magnitude at around 12.20pm. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) identified the epicentre in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, just north of the Aeolian Islands. Italian officials confirmed that all but one of the tremors registered above 4.0-magnitude, with the regions of Messina and Palermo the worst affected.

Italian authorities issued an orange tsunami warning, classified as 'advisory' by the national tsunami warning system. This classification indicates coastal communities could be impacted by tsunami waves of less than 0.5 metres with a maximum run-up on land of less than one metre. Schools across Palermo and Messina were evacuated as a precautionary measure, though the orange warning does not necessarily mean a tsunami will strike the region.

Residents across the Sicilian region felt the tremors and evacuated buildings amid concerns over structural damage. Locals on the Aeolian islands of Alicudi and Filicudi also poured onto the streets, with students sent home from school following the earthquakes.

How it is being reported

• Sicily earthquakes live: Tsunami warning for Italy after 12 quakes near PalermoA series of 12 major earthquakes close to Sicily has led to an orange tsunami warning being issued - schools in Palermo have been evacuatedThe Mirror · 23 Oct, 14:28
• Tsunami alert for Italy after series of earthquakes off the coastA Tsunami alert has been issued off the coast of Italy after a series of tremors were detected.Daily Mail · 23 Oct, 14:06
• Italy earthquakes: Tsunami alert issued after 12 tremors strike off Mediterranean coastThe first earthquake struck at 11:40am on Friday with a magnitude of 3.3Independent World · 23 Oct, 13:39
• British tourists issued urgent tsunami alert after TWELVE earthquakes hit off the coast of Italy sparking mass evacuationsBritish tourists have been issued an urgent tsunami alert after 12 earthquakes hit off the coast of Italy causing mass evacuations to take place. The biggest recorded on Friday afternoon was 5.0-magnitude tremor at around 12.20pm in Sicily. Italian officials confirmed all 11 other quakes were above 4.0-magnitude, with the regions of Messina and Palermo being the worst affected. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the first shake's epicentre struck the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, just north of the Aeolian Islands. After authorities issued an orange tsunami warning, schools…GB News · 23 Oct, 13:26

In this story: Sicily · Messina · Palermo · Aeolian Islands · Tyrrhenian Sea · National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology

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