2016 Central Italy earthquake

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2016 Central Italy earthquake
USGS shakemap of the earthquake.[1]
2016 Central Italy earthquake is located in Italy
2016 Central Italy earthquake
2016 Central Italy earthquake is located in Umbria
2016 Central Italy earthquake
Date 24 August 2016 (2016-08-24)
Origin time 01:36:33 UTC[2]
Magnitude 6.2 ± 0.016 Mw[3]
Depth 4 ± 1 km (2.49 ± 0.62 mi)[2]
Epicenter 42°42′22″N 13°13′23″E / 42.706°N 13.223°E / 42.706; 13.223Coordinates: 42°42′22″N 13°13′23″E / 42.706°N 13.223°E / 42.706; 13.223[2]
Type Normal[1]
Areas affected Italy
Max. intensity IX (Violent)[1]
Casualties 290 deaths[4]
388 injured[5]
2,500 homeless

An earthquake, measuring 6.2 ± 0.016[3] on the moment magnitude scale, hit Central Italy on 24 August 2016 at 03:36:32 CEST (01:36 UTC). Its epicentre was close to Accumoli, with its hypocentre at a depth of 4 ± 1 km,[2] approximately 75 km (47 mi) southeast of Perugia and 45 km (28 mi) north of L'Aquila, in an area near the borders of the Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche regions. At least 290 people have been killed and dozens more are missing.[4]

Background[edit]

The central Apennines is one of the most seismically active areas in Italy. The Apennines mountain belt were formed in the Miocene to Pliocene as a result of the ongoing subduction of the Adriatic Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, forming a fold and thrust belt. During the Quaternary, thrust tectonics gave way to extensional tectonics, with the development of a zone of normal faulting running along the crest of the mountain range. The extension is a result of either subduction rollback or the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea.[1] In the Central Apennines the zone of extension is about 30 km wide, closely matching the zone of observed extensional strain as shown by GPS measurements. Recent large earthquakes in this area have been caused by movement on SW-dipping normal faults.[6]

This was the largest tremor since 2009,[7] when an earthquake near L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region killed over 300 people and displaced about 65,000.

Earthquake[edit]

The quake was initially reported by INGV to have occurred at a depth of approximately 5 km (3.1 mi), with a magnitude of 6.0 Mw and epicentre in the comune of Accumoli.[2] The USGS first reported an earthquake at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi) with a magnitude of 6.4 Mw and epicentre South-East of Norcia,[1][8] but subsequently revised the magnitude to 6.2 Mw The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the magnitude at 6.1.[9][10]

The initial earthquake was followed by at least 40 strong aftershocks.[11] The tremor and a number of aftershocks were felt across the whole of central Italy (from Rimini to Naples), including Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Naples.[12]

Magnitude of the Central Italy earthquake (6.0) and its aftershocks (most were less than 4.0); aftershocks continued to occur after the period shown here
Aftershock distribution, August 24-25.
Red: Main shock, Orange: 6 > M ≧ 4. Blue: 4 > M ≧ 3, Light blue: 3 > M
Quakes with a magnitude of 4,0 and higher
Date Local time
(CEST)
Moment
magnitude
Hypocenter
depth
Epicenter
Municipality Latitude Longitude
24 August 2016 03:36:32[13] 6.2 10 km (6.2 mi) Norcia 42.71 13.17
24 August 2016 03:56:02[14] 4.6 10 km (6.2 mi) Amatrice 42.61 13.28
24 August 2016 04:33:29[15] 5.5 10 km (6.2 mi) Norcia 42.79 13.15
24 August 2016 04:59:35[16] 4.3 9 km (5.6 mi) Norcia 42.80 13.14
24 August 2016 05:40:11[17] 4.3 10.7 km (6.6 mi) Amatrice 42.62 13.25
24 August 2016 06:06:53[18] 4.4 10 km (6.2 mi) Cascia 42.75 13.03
24 August 2016 13:50:31[19] 4.9 10 km (6.2 mi) Visso 42.87 13.11
24 August 2016 13:50:57[20] 4.1 8 km (5.0 mi) Arquata del Tronto 42.82 13.15
24 August 2016 19:46:09[21] 4.6 10 km (6.2 mi) Arquata del Tronto 42.72 13.19
25 August 2016 01:22:06[22] 4.1 7.3 km (4.5 mi) Maltignano 42.67 13.14
25 August 2016 05:17:16[23] 4.7 10 km (6.2 mi) Norcia 42.78 13.18
25 August 2016 05:36:07[24] 4.3 10 km (6.2 mi) Maltignano 42.65 13.16
26 August 2016 06:28:27[25] 4.7 10 km (6.2 mi) Amatrice 42.66 13.25
27 August 2016 04:50:59[26] 4.2 12.2 km (7.6 mi) Norcia 42.83 13.15
28 August 2016 15:07:34[27] 4,3 11.7 km (7.3 mi) Amatrice 42,66 13,24
28 August 2016 17:55:36[28] 4,6 5.7 km (3.5 mi) Norcia 42,78 13,15
28 August 2016 18:42:02[29] 4,3 10 km (6.2 mi) Visso 42,86 13,03

Casualties and rescue work[edit]

Nationalities of victims
Nationality Dead Injured
 Italy 264 376
 Romania 11 6
 United Kingdom 3 2
 Albania 1 7[30]
 El Salvador 1 1
 Canada 1 1
 Spain 1
 Macedonia 1[31]

As of 27 August 2016, the official figures of the Protezione Civile report that the earthquake caused the death of 290 people: 230 in Amatrice, 11 in Accumoli and 49 in Arquata del Tronto.[32] At least 365 wounded had to be treated in hospitals, mainly in Rieti and Ascoli Piceno, while people with less serious injuries were treated in place.[33]

In addition of the ones rescued with the help of other inhabitants or escaped by themselves, 238 people were pulled alive from the rubble by the timely intervention of the authorities, 215 by the Vigili del Fuoco, 23 by the Soccorso Alpino.[34][35]

Approximately 2,100 people found shelter in the emergency camps.[32] Approximately 4,400 people were involved in the search and rescue operations, including 70 teams with rescue dogs. Logistics made use of 12 helicopters, with 9 more in stand-by.[36]

Damage[edit]

Amatrice city center in 2008
The Church of Sant'Agostino in Amatrice in 2012.

Early reports indicated severe damage in the town of Amatrice, near the epicentre,[37] and in Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto. Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, stated that "Amatrice is not here anymore, half of the town is destroyed."[38][39] Photos of the destruction depicted a massive pile of rubble in the town's centre with only a few structures still standing on the outskirts.[40]

Cultural heritage[edit]

In addition to the loss of human life, widespread destruction of cultural heritage is also reported.[41][42][43]

In Amatrice, the facade and rose window of the Church of Sant'Agostino were destroyed, and the museum dedicated to the painter Nicola Filotesio, student and companion of Raphael, collapsed.[42] The quake also created cracks in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.[41] The earthquake was so broad that authorities made structural tests on the Colosseum as well, which was not damaged.[43]

The Assisi Basilica – a UNESCO World Heritage site with frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue that were partly destroyed by an earthquake in 1997 – was declared safe after an extensive survey by the head restorer.[44][45]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "M6.2 – 10km SE of Norcia, Italy". United States Geological Survey. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "Relazione di dettaglio: Rieti Mw 6.0 del 2016-08-24 01:36:32 UTC" (PDF). INGV (in Italian). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016. 
  3. ^ a b "Origin". USGS Technical. USGS. Retrieved 26 August 2016. 
  4. ^ a b Casalini, Simona; Gagliardi, Giovanni; Riccardi, Katia; Gerino, Claudio (25 August 2016). "Terremoto, ad Amatrice nuove scosse: 250 le vittime accertate. "Temiamo bilancio peggiore dell'Aquila"" [Earthquake, aftershocks in Amatrice: 250 victims confirmed. "We fear a worse toll than L'Aquila"]. la Repubblica. Retrieved 25 August 2016. 
  5. ^ "Italy earthquake: Death toll rises to at least 120". BBC Online. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  6. ^ D'Agostino N., Mantenuto S., D'Anastasio E., Avallone A., Barchi M., Collettini C., Radicioni F., Stoppini A. & Fastellini G. (2009). "Contemporary crustal extension in the Umbria–Marche Apennines from regional CGPS networks and comparison between geodetic and seismic deformation" (PDF). Tectonophysics. 476 (1-2): 3–12. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2008.09.033. 
  7. ^ Breslin, Sean (24 August 2016). "6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Italy; Residents Trapped, Major Damage Reported". Weather.com. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  8. ^ Scherer, Steve (24 August 2016). "Magnitude 6.4 quake hits Italy near Perugia: USGS". Reuters. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  9. ^ Park, Madison; Karimi, Faith (24 August 2016). "Earthquake hits central Italy". CNN. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  10. ^ Santalucia, Paola; Winfield, Nicole (24 August 2016). "6.2-magnitude earthquake rattles Rome, central Italy". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  11. ^ Povoledo, Elisabetta (24 August 2016). "6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Italy, Killing Dozens". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  12. ^ Palazzo, Chiara; Graham, Chris; Squires, Nick (24 August 2016). "Italy quake: 6.4 magnitude tremor rocks heart of the country". The Telegraph. United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  13. ^ M6.2 - 10km SE of Norcia, Italy
  14. ^ M4.6 - 10km W of Amatrice, Italy
  15. ^ M5.5 - 4km NE of Norcia, Italy
  16. ^ M4.3 - 3km N of Norcia, Italy
  17. ^ M4.3 - 4km W of Amatrice, Italy
  18. ^ M4.5 - 4km NNE of Cascia, Italy
  19. ^ M4.9 - 5km SSE of Visso, Italy
  20. ^ M4.1 - 6km SW of Arquata del Tronto, Italy
  21. ^ M4.6 - 10km WSW of Arquata del Tronto, Italy
  22. ^ M4.1 - 8km ESE of Maltignano, Italy
  23. ^ M4.7 - 7km E of Norcia, Italy
  24. ^ M4.3 - 10km ESE of Maltignano, Italy
  25. ^ M4.7 - 5km NW of Amatrice, Italy
  26. ^ M4.2 - 6km NE of Norcia, Italy
  27. ^ M4.3 - 5km NW of Amatrice, Italy
  28. ^ M4.6 - 4km E of Norcia, Italy
  29. ^ M4.3 - 8km SSW of Visso, Italy
  30. ^ One of the injured had dual Macedonian–Albanian nationality
  31. ^ One of the injured had dual Macedonian-Albanian nationality
  32. ^ a b "Terremoto Centro Italia: aggiornamento del numero di vittime, feriti e popolazione assistita", Protezione Civile, 26 August 2016.
  33. ^ "Terremoto Centro Italia: aggiornamento del numero di vittime e feriti", Protezione Civile, 25 August 2016.
  34. ^ Terremoto, 281 morti e 388 i feriti, corriere.it; accessed 28 August 2016.(Italian)
  35. ^ "Terremoto, Alfano: "I Vigili del Fuoco e il sistema della sicurezza hanno garantito un'azione pronta di recupero e di salvataggio di tante persone"". Ministry of Interior of Italy. 25 August 2016. 
  36. ^ Terremoto Italia centrale: le forze in campo, Protezione Civile, 25 August 2016
  37. ^ Povoledo, Elisabetta; Mele, Christopher (23 August 2016). "Large Earthquake Strikes Central Italy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 August 2016. 
  38. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (24 August 2016). "Mayor of Amatrice: 'the town isn't here any more' after strong earthquake". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2016. 
  39. ^ Lorenzi, Rossella (24 August 2016). "Italy Quake: Famous Village 'Isn't Here Any More'". Seeker.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016. 
  40. ^ "Terremoto ad Amatrice, la distruzione vista dall'alto" [Earthquake at Amatrice, the destruction seen from above]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 28 August 2016. 
  41. ^ a b Kennedy, Maev (24 August 2016). "Art experts fear serious earthquake damage to historic Italian buildings". The Guardian. United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 August 2016. 
  42. ^ a b Dichiarante, Anna (24 August 2016). "Terremoto nel centro Italia, i danni al patrimonio artistico" [Earthquake in Central Italy, the damage to heritage]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 25 August 2016. 
  43. ^ a b "Terremoto Centro Italia, chiese e monumenti storici danneggiati. Sopralluogo anche al Colosseo: "Tutto ok"" [Earthquake in Central Italy, churches and historical monuments damaged. Inspection also at the Coliseum: "Everything ok"]. Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016. 
  44. ^ McGivern, Hannah (24 August 2016). "Assisi basilica declared safe after fatal earthquake strikes central Italy". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 27 August 2016. 
  45. ^ Povoledo, Elisabetta. "After Earthquake in Italy, 'Half the Town No Longer Exists'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 August 2016. 

External links[edit]