Italy’s most violent earthquakes since 1900

Earthquakes in Italy are caused by tectonic plates pulling the Earth’s crust on the northern side of the Apennines away from the south at a rate of three millimeters per year

Main thrust

Major fault

ITALY

Oct 2016, Norcia, magnitude 6.6: Widespread damage but no fatalities

Aug 2016, Amatrice (6.2): 298 killed

Apr 2009, L’Aquila (6.3): 309

Nov 1980, Campania (6.9): Up to 5,000

May 1976, Friuli (6.5): Over 900

Jul 1930, Irpinia (6.6): Around 1,400

Jan 1915, Avezzano (6.7): Over 30,000

Dec 1908, Strait of Messina (7.1): Up to 200,000 killed by quake and tsunami

Sep 1905, Calabria (7.2): Up to 2,500 killed by tsunami

APENNINES

EURASIAN PLATE

TYRRHENIAN SEA

100km 60 miles

AFRICAN PLATE

EURASIAN PLATE

ADRIATIC SEA

IONIAN SEA

Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia