Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes Italy

Magnitude 6.3 mainshock strikes central Italy

Magnitude 6.3 mainshock preceded by a foreshock measuring 4Mw and followed by a 4.8Mw aftershock strike central Italy about 95 km NE of Rome. The epicenter of the quake was near the city of L’Aquila, the most populated cities in central Italy.

According to various news reports, at least 20 people have been killed and many more could be trapped in the rubble.  About 5,000 buildings have been damaged and many are left homeless.

L’Aquila Seismic History:

L’Aquila, a medieval town of about 73,000 inhabitants, is the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L’Aquila. However, thousands students, workers and tourists travel to the city each day.

• L’Aquila was struck by a a cluster of quakes in 1348-50 which destroyed most of the city.

• In 1461, another large quake razed most of the city to the ground.

• In 1703, L’Aquila was almost completely destroyed by yet another quake.

• According to local sources, another large earthquake destroyed most of the city about 100 years ago.

• In 1997, a strong earthquake killed 15 people and damaged thousands of buildings in central Italy.

[Data from various sources.]

Location Map – Source: USGS

This Earthquake

Magnitude: 6.3
Date-Time:

• Monday, April 06, 2009 at 01:32:42 UTC
• Monday, April 06, 2009 at 03:32:42 AM at epicenter

Location:  42.423°N, 13.395°E
Depth 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region:  CENTRAL ITALY
Distances

• 70 km (40 miles) W of Pescara, Italy
• 95 km (60 miles) NE of ROME, Italy
• 115 km (70 miles) SE of Perugia, Italy
• 135 km (85 miles) S of Ancona, Italy

Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 4.6 km (2.9 miles); depth fixed by location program

Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

Event ID:  us2009fcaf