A 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Calabria region this morning, affecting both Italy and Malta. Authorities noted a widespread sense of fear following the earthquake, with individuals reporting being awoken by the tremors. Fortunately, there have been no injuries or significant damages reported at this time.
Residents in various areas of Malta and Gozo experienced the earthquake, with residents in Marsascala, Mġarr, Valletta, St Julian’s, Sliema, Kirkop, St Paul’s Bay, and Birkirkara being jolted from their sleep. Emergency services in both Italy and Malta were inundated with calls in the aftermath of the earthquake, though no injuries or damages have been confirmed.
This seismic event is not the first to be felt in Calabria recently, as a small tremor struck the northern part of the region on January 7, followed by another tremor in the southwest on January 6. Domenico Costarella, head of the Calabria Region’s Civil Protection Department, mentioned that while residents clearly felt the earthquake, no damages have been reported yet.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was off the Ionian coast at a depth of 65km. Times of Malta highlighted that residents across the island were startled awake by the shaking. The earthquake occurred off the southern tip of Italy just before 6 am local time today, causing tremors in various parts of Italy and Malta.