A strong earthquake struck eastern Sicily at 7:05 a.m. today, shaking areas including Catania, Messina and Siracusa. According to Italy’s Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), the quake measured magnitude 4.5 and had a shallow depth of approximately 3.8 kilometers. The epicenter was located on Mount Etna, northwest of the town of Ragalna.
No injuries or structural damage have been reported so far. However, regional Civil Protection authorities immediately launched monitoring procedures, contacting local municipalities to assess any potential critical issues.
As a precaution, schools were closed for the day. The mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, announced the suspension of classes to allow safety inspections of school buildings. Similar measures were adopted in several other municipalities across the province.