Terrified individuals fled to the streets as two consecutive earthquakes jolted homes and prompted evacuations. The initial tremor, as per the Italian National Institute of Geophysics, struck around 9:27am with a magnitude ranging from 4.0 to 4.5, originating in the Forlì-Cesena province in Italy. Shortly after, at 9:29am, a second quake hit the Ravenna area, measuring between 3.7 and 4.2 in magnitude.
Witnesses described the quakes lasting about five seconds each, causing buildings in Forli to shake, forcing residents to evacuate onto the streets. The shallow depth of the seismic activity, at 14 miles, amplified the tremors, although no injuries have been reported thus far.
As a precautionary measure, evacuations were conducted, and schools near the epicenter in Emilia-Romagna closed. A resident in Faenza shared on social media the intensity of the quakes, noting the evacuation of children from classrooms but confirming their safety.
Mayor Valentina Palli of Russi, in Ravenna province, emphasized the need for calm amid ongoing investigations into the earthquake’s impact. Authorities confirmed orderly evacuations with no immediate reports of damage.
Reports indicate that residents in Milan, 160 miles away from the epicenter, felt slight tremors from the earthquakes. Train services in Romagna have been halted for inspections on various lines to ensure safety.
The Regional Operations Centre in Bologna, under the Territorial Security and Civil Protection Agency, is spearheading the response efforts. Massimo Camprini is leading a specialized team on-site for initial assessments in collaboration with the fire department.