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[INTERNATIONAL] · Italy · 93 sources

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Sicily earthquake sequence triggers tsunami alert and evacuations

A significant seismic sequence occurred in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea on October 23, 2026, centered near the Aeolian Islands. The most intense tremor, estimated with a magnitude between 5.0 and 5.7, struck at 12:19 local time at a depth of approximately 9 km. This main event was preceded and followed by dozens of other tremors, including a magnitude 4.3 shock at 11:51 and a magnitude 4.6 event later in the afternoon.

The earthquake was felt strongly across Sicily, including Palermo, Messina, and Trapani, as well as in Calabria. In response to the undersea epicenter, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) issued an orange tsunami warning. However, monitoring of sea levels at Strombolicchio and Ginostra allowed authorities to revoke the alert by 13:22 after determining no significant waves would occur.

In Palermo, schools, universities, and public offices were evacuated as a precaution. The Mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, issued an ordinance to close schools and university facilities until the following day. Regional Civil Protection officials have ordered municipalities in the Palermo and Messina provinces to conduct structural inspections of buildings, prioritizing schools and hospitals, and to maintain high readiness due to the ongoing seismic swarm.

Entities

Aeolian Islands · Calabria · Civil Protection · INGV · Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia · Istituto Nazionale di Geofizica e Vulcanologia · Palermo · Protezione Civile · Roberto Lagalla · Salvo Cocina · Salvo Koćina · Sicily

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