L'Aquila Earthquake, Central Italy 2009: News & Images

Italy has a long history of earthquakes, dating back to the major event of 1627 which devastated the central region of Gargano. The combination of active European and African tectonic plates, well–defined fault lines, and geological movements zig–zagging the same area have established Italy's reputation as one of the most earthquake–prone regions in the world.¹

The largest Italian earthquakes tend to align along the crest of the central and southern Apennines. There is an alignment running from Genoa in the north to Messina in the south that has been responsible for major earthquakes, and which will be the concentration of all major tremors — sooner or later.²

The 6.3M earthquake struck l'Aquila – 55 miles northeast of Rome – on April 6, 2009 at 3:32AM local time.³

Earthquake Facts

  • 60,000 homeless; 4,000 people still living in temporary shelters BBC
  • 300 people reported dead
  • About 1,000 people injured, 100 seriously
  • Approximately 29,000 left homeless; of these, 15,350 have been moved to 139 hotels on the coast
  • 3,674 tents set up with 39 kitchens
  • 8,500 volunteers assisting
  • 15 people still reported missing
  • 6.3M quake struck roughly 60m east of Rome
  • Roughly 15,000 buildings damaged
  • Quake struck on April 6, 2009
  • Occurred along a fault running NW-SE in the central Apennines Mountain range

Research Organizations, Reconnaissance Teams & Reports

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MCEER Publications

  • L'Aquila Earthquake of April 6, 2009 in Italy: Rebuilding a Resilient City to Multiple Hazard
  • MCEER–10–0010