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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.4 | Jul 24, 22:08 UTC | 10 km | 3 km NNE of Scontrone, Italy |
| M2.6 | Jul 24, 12:05 UTC | 10 km | 1 km NNW of Petritoli, Italy |
| M4.2 | Jul 23, 23:59 UTC | 10 km | 1 km E of Schottwien, Austria |
| M4.7 | Jul 23, 22:55 UTC | 243 km | 56 km NW of Santa Domenica, Italy |
Notable recent activity
An M4.7 earthquake struck 56 km NW of Santa Domenica, Italy at 22:55 UTC on Jul 23 at a depth of 243 km.
An M4.4 earthquake struck 3 km NNE of Scontrone, Italy at 22:08 UTC on Jul 24 at a depth of 10 km.
An M4.2 earthquake struck 1 km E of Schottwien, Austria at 23:59 UTC on Jul 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.