Terrified residents fled into the streets when two consecutive earthquakes jolted homes, prompting evacuations. The initial quake, believed to have a magnitude ranging from 4.0 to 4.5, struck at 9:27 am with the epicenter in the Forlì-Cesena province of Italy. Shortly after, at 9:29 am, a second tremor hit the Ravenna area with an estimated magnitude between 3.7 and 4.2.
Witnesses described the quakes lasting up to five seconds each, causing homes in Forli to shake violently, forcing people to evacuate into the streets. The shallow depth of the earthquakes at 14 miles contributed to the widespread impact. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported thus far.
As a precautionary measure, evacuations were conducted, and schools near the epicenter in Emilia-Romagna closed. A resident of Faenza shared on social media the intensity of the tremors, highlighting the orderly evacuation of children from classrooms.
Authorities, including Valentina Palli, mayor of Russi, emphasized the need for calm amid ongoing investigations into the earthquakes’ effects. Palli assured the public of no reported damages and stressed the importance of remaining composed in the situation.
Reports indicate that the earthquakes were felt as far as Milan, approximately 160 miles from the epicenter, with minimal impact. Train services were temporarily suspended in Romagna for safety inspections on various lines. A specialized team, led by Massimo Camprini at the Regional Operations Centre in Bologna, is coordinating the response efforts in collaboration with the fire brigade to assess the situation on the ground.