Earthquake Shakes Sicily

Moderate Quake Causes Minor Damage

No Injuries Reported

A moderate earthquake shook the Italian island of Sicily on Tuesday, causing minor damage to buildings but no injuries, according to local authorities. The quake, which had a magnitude of 5.4, struck at around 3:30 a.m. local time and was centered near the town of Acireale, on the eastern coast of the island. The quake was felt across much of Sicily, as well as in parts of mainland Italy.

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that the quake was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks, the largest of which had a magnitude of 4.0. The INGV said that the quake was caused by the movement of two tectonic plates beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

Local authorities in Sicily have reported that the quake caused minor damage to some buildings, including cracks in walls and fallen plaster. However, no major structural damage has been reported and no injuries have been reported.

The quake is the strongest to hit Sicily since a 6.0 magnitude quake in 2018 that caused widespread damage and killed four people.

Erdbeben Sizilien