A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck off the coast of Calabria, at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, and has been felt across much of southern Italy, though no damage has so far been reported.
The quake was recorded by Italy’s National Seismic Network at 12.12am on June 2, with its epicentre out at sea about 20 kilometres off the northwestern coast of Calabria, near Amantea, in the province of Cosenza, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said.
The institute said the tremor had occurred “at a considerable depth, approximately 250 kilometres”.
Despite that depth, the earthquake, which took place in the Tyrrhenian Sea, was felt widely from Lazio in central Italy down to Sicily, the INGV said, citing questionnaires submitted by residents.
The institute said deep earthquakes were characteristic of the southern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, where this one took place. It added that they were caused by the geological process of subduction of the Ionian lithosphere beneath Calabria.
The US Geological Survey, which rated the shaking as light, said deep earthquakes tended to produce weaker movement at the surface than shallow ones of similar strength, while being felt over a far wider area.
Tremors were reported across a wide area, including Naples and the regions of Puglia and Basilicata, with the shaking hitting in the early hours of June 2, a national public holiday in Italy.
Italy’s Civil Protection Department said there had been no reports of injuries or damage to property and that the situation was being monitored. In some areas residents took to the streets and contacted firefighters and the regional civil protection service, mostly seeking information.
