4.7 Earthquake felt close to Siracusa and Catania in Sicily. It was also registered in Malta
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A 4.7 magnitude earthquake was felt in Sicily. Different seismic recording stations had different measures varying from 4.5 to 5. The earthquake was registered at 00:34:21 UTC (02:34) local time.
The earthquake, which had a depth of 10km, was followed by three aftershocks had its epicentre measured on latitude / longitude: 37.49°N / 15.07°E, and was felt in Siracusa, Catania, Acitrezza and Biancavilla. Adrano and Biancavilla are the most hit villages, where there are some collapses of cornices.
The Maltese Seismic and Monitoring Research Group at the University of Malta, recorded the earthquake at 4.7.
According to according to the first assessments of firefighters, the quake caused the collapse of cornices, in the church of Santa Maria di Licodia and Palazzo Ardizzone, former seat of the town hall, and of old rural houses but not any collapse of buildings.
The citizens of the three municipalities have left their homes and took to the streets and the local Civil Protection has already taken steps to cordon some areas.
The earthquake was felt in Catania and throughout the province, as well as in Syracuse, Enna and Messina.
Some people were injured in a non-serious way and were taken to the hospital in Biancavilla. Others were hospitalised in a state of shock.
Verifications are underway by carabinieri and firefighters.
The mayor of Biancavilla: “We do not give in to panic”– “The shock has touched us all, but let us not panic”. The mayor of Biancavilla, Antonio Bonanno, said “For those who are out of doors, let’s avoid staying near balconies and, therefore, dwellings. carabinieri, firemen, police, civil protection and volunteers we are on the streets of Biancavilla to monitor the situation “.
