Recent earthquakes in Italy
Italy sits along the boundary where the African Plate converges with Eurasia, driving the Apennine mountain chain that runs down the peninsula and hosting volcanoes such as Vesuvius and Etna. Most earthquakes occur on extensional faults along the Apennine spine. The 1908 Messina earthquake (M7.1) and tsunami killed tens of thousands and remains Europe's deadliest modern earthquake. In the past 24 hours, Italy has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | Oct 23, 15:32 UTC | 10 km | 52 km WNW of Malfa, Italy |
| M5.2 | Oct 23, 13:55 UTC | 10 km | 50 km WNW of Malfa, Italy |
| M5.7 | Oct 23, 10:19 UTC | 10 km | 61 km WNW of Leni, Italy |
| M4.9 | Oct 23, 09:51 UTC | 10 km | 53 km WNW of Leni, Italy |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.7 earthquake struck 61 km WNW of Leni, Italy at 10:19 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 10 km.
A moderate M5.2 earthquake struck 50 km WNW of Malfa, Italy at 13:55 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 10 km.
An M4.9 earthquake struck 53 km WNW of Leni, Italy at 09:51 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Italy have earthquakes?
Italy lies in the collision zone between the African and Eurasian plates. This convergence built the Apennine mountains, whose extensional faults produce most of the country's earthquakes, while subduction beneath the south feeds active volcanoes.
Which parts of Italy get the most earthquakes?
The central and southern Apennines — regions such as Abruzzo, Umbria, and Calabria — are the most seismically active, along with Sicily near Mount Etna. Northern Italy's Friuli region is also prone to significant earthquakes.
What was the biggest earthquake in Italy?
The December 28, 1908 Messina earthquake, magnitude 7.1, and the tsunami it caused killed roughly 80,000 people in Sicily and Calabria, making it Europe's deadliest recorded earthquake. More recent events include L'Aquila in 2009 and Amatrice in 2016.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.