An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale was felt between Lucca, Pisa and Massa Carrara
The tremor was felt by the public but, according to initial checks carried out following the event, there appears to have been no damage to people or property
An earthquake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale according to the INGV, was felt by the public at around 10.15 am in northern Tuscany in the provinces of Lucca, Pisa and Massa Carrara. Governor Eugenio Giani explained on social media: ‘Checks are underway with the regional authorities. The strong tremor was felt throughout northern Tuscany’. The quake’s epicentre was 7 kilometres from Pisa, at a depth of 8 km. The main tremor was followed by several minor aftershocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 3.2.
In Pisa, the fire service switchboard received numerous calls confirming that the epicentre of the earthquake was in Lucca. In the public offices in the centre of Pisa, dozens of people rushed out onto the streets. The Situation Room for Italia at the Department of Civil Protection has been in contact with the local branches of the National Civil Protection Service. The tremor was clearly felt by the public but, according to initial checks carried out following the event, there appears to be no damage to people or property.
The fire brigade is also carrying out inspections. “At the moment,” the fire brigade explains, “we have received a number of requests for inspections” of “properties in the centre of Pisa”.
The Mayor of Pisa: no damage to the Tower
“The situation is under control. We are in constant contact with the Region of Tuscany and the Opera Primarziale regarding our beloved tower, and I can confirm that it has not sustained any damage.” This was stated in a video posted on social media by Michele Conti, mayor of Pisa, the city where three earthquakes have struck since this morning, the strongest of which occurred at 10.15 am with a magnitude of 4.3 “It was a significant tremor for our city,” said the mayor, “and many residents, as well as many office workers, came out onto the streets. However, there are no reports of damage to property or injury to people.”
Monitoring of the Tower is, however, still ongoing, as the seismic swarm is still active, according to the Opera Primaziale Pisana. At the time of the tremor, tourists were evacuated from the Leaning Tower and operations have now resumed as normal.
