On Monday morning, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy north of Florence, prompting residents to rush into the streets. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of damage or personal injuries, but precautionary measures were taken.
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Marradi, a town of approximately 3,000 residents, located in the province of Florence within the Apennine mountain range. The earthquake occurred at 5:10 am local time, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).
As a precaution, schools in some areas were closed, and train services were delayed while railway lines were inspected for any potential damage. Firefighters responded to calls from frightened residents but reported no personal injuries at the time.
The mayor of Marradi, Tommaso Triberti, stated that firefighters were conducting checks inside private homes to assess any structural damage. While there was significant concern among residents, no significant damage had been reported thus far.
Italy is located in a seismically active region, and earthquakes are not uncommon. Authorities in the country take earthquake preparedness and response seriously to minimize potential risks to the population and infrastructure.