A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the central Italian Adriatic region of Marche Wednesday morning. A second quake and more than 20 aftershocks followed. The epicenter was in the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Croatia at a depth of 25 kilometers and 64 kilometers east of Rimini, according to the Italian Institute of Earthquakes and Volcanology (INGV). The coastal town of Senigallia was particularly hard hit. So far, damage to buildings has been reported, but no injuries.
The first two tremors after 7 a.m. were clearly felt in several northern and central Italian regions, as well as Trentino, South Tyrol and Rome. People rushed into the streets, the fire brigade was inundated with calls from concerned citizens. The earthquake was also clearly felt in Carinthia – especially in Klagenfurt and Villach, as the Austrian Central Institute of Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) announced.
People wanted to escape by train
In the seaside resort of Rimini, people also ran outside in panic. Many hotels have been evacuated. Tourists stormed the train station hoping to get out of the city. Damage to buildings has been reported. Train traffic was interrupted for checks near the Adriatic port of Ancona. Some people got stuck in elevators.
In the Adriatic port city of Ancona, from which ferries depart to Croatia and Greece, several buildings, including a hospital, had to be evacuated as a precaution. Patients from the private clinic Villa Igea in Ancona fled into the streets in their nightgowns. Ancona train station is closed. Schools across the Marche region were closed on Wednesday.
the checks are running
“At the moment there is no major damage, but we are carrying out all possible checks in public buildings. The shock was large because the earthquakes were severe and we fear aftershocks,” emphasized the mayor of the art city of Pesaro, Matteo Ricci. Investigations have been launched to determine whether the earthquake caused damage to the Renaissance city’s museums and churches.
Region first hit by natural disaster
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said the head of government was in constant contact with the Civil Protection Office and the head of government for the Marche region. The Adriatic region around Ancona and Senigallia was already rocked by a natural disaster in mid-September. After a night of heavy rain, the streets of some towns had turned into rivers. 13 people died and 90 people had to leave their badly damaged homes.
Italy scarred by earthquakes
The Mediterranean region is one of the most active earthquake zones in Europe. The town of L’Aquila in the middle of the Italian Apennines was rocked in 2009 by a major earthquake that killed more than 300 people. In August 2016, nearly 300 people died when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook the town of Amatrice and several neighboring towns in the Apennines.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
