A seismic sequence affected the Catanzaro area from the early hours of today, Wednesday 16 September. According to data from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, between 3.11 and 7.08 nine earthquakes with a magnitude equal to or greater than 2 were recorded in the area between Amaroni, Vallefiorita, Squillace and Borgia.
The strongest shock, of magnitude 3.5, was recorded at 7.04 am with an epicenter 2 kilometers north-west of Squillace and a hypocenter about 40 kilometers deep. The most intense phase of the sequence was concentrated in just four minutes. At 7.07, in fact, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake was located 2 kilometers north-east of Amaroni. Immediately afterwards, at 7.08, another earthquake of magnitude 3.2 occurred 2 kilometers west of Borgia.
The tremors from the night in the Catanzaro area
The activity had already begun during the night. At 3.11am the INGV recorded an earthquake of magnitude 2.4 in Amaroni. At 5.29am a magnitude 2.7 earthquake occurred 2 kilometers north-east of Vallefiorita.
Other events followed: magnitude 2.4 at 5.44 am, 2 kilometers east of Amaroni; magnitude 2.3 at 5.48 am, 3 kilometers south-west of Borgia; magnitude 2.8 at 6.02 am, 2 kilometers south-east of Vallefiorita; magnitude 2.0 at 6.08, 3 kilometers north-east of Vallefiorita.
Deep earthquakes, sequence still active
All events in the sequence have relatively deep hypocenters, ranging from approximately 36 to 41 kilometers. A depth that helps to attenuate the effects felt on the surface compared to earthquakes of the same magnitude but more superficial.
The activity did not end with the three strongest tremors. After 7.08 the INGV recorded other smaller events in the same area: magnitude 1.7 at 7.09, 1.6 at 7.36 and 1.9 at 7.41.
The sequence therefore affects a limited area of the Catanzaro area, with numerous close events and three earthquakes greater than magnitude 3 concentrated shortly after 7 am. The seismic activity is monitored by the INGV and the data may be updated in the next few hours.