An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Calabria this morning, affecting both Italy and Malta. The seismic event caused a significant amount of fear among the population, with reports of individuals being awoken by the shaking.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or significant damage resulting from the earthquake so far. Residents across Malta and Gozo experienced the tremor, with people in various areas such as Marsascala, Mġarr, Valletta, and others being disturbed from their sleep.
Emergency services in both Italy and Malta were inundated with calls following the earthquake. However, despite the high level of seismic activity, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or property damage at this time.
This recent earthquake in Calabria follows a series of seismic events in the region, with smaller tremors occurring on January 6 and 7. Domenico Costarella, the head of the Calabria Region’s Civil Protection Department, mentioned that although residents felt the quake distinctly, no damage has been reported.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was off the Ionian coast at a depth of 65km. The tremor, which occurred before 6am local time, was felt across various parts of Italy and Malta.
Reports from the Times of Malta indicated that individuals across the island were awakened by the shaking caused by the earthquake. Despite the widespread tremors, there have been no significant incidents of damage or injuries reported thus far.
