#11,858
On the heels of last Wednesday's damaging M6.1 and M5.5 quakes (and ongoing aftershocks) which struck in and around Norcia, Italy another - much larger M6.6 quake - has struck overnight.
Damage reports are still coming in, but it is likely to be heavy given the number of previously damaged structures.
While the difference between a 6.1 and a 6.6 quake may appear small on the scale, in actuality, the 6.6 quake is more than 5 times stronger than the 6.1 quake.
This calculation from the USGS `How Much Bigger' Calculator.
Aftershocks continue to rock the region, and that activity could continue for days or weeks. This same region was rocked by a M.62 quake in late August.
Much of central and (particularly) southern Europe is seismically active. Below you’ll find the 2013 SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) seismic hazard map.
In 2011, in A Look At Europe’s Seismic Risks, we took a look at some of the most devastating earthquakes to strike Europe over the past 700 years, including the quake that leveled the Swiss town of Basel in 1356 and the horrific earthquake and tsunami that struck Portugal in 1755 on November 1st (All Saint’s Day).
Also in 2011 (see UNDP: Supercities At Seismic Risk) we saw a report that stated that half of the world’s supercities (urban areas with 2 million – 15 million inhabitants) are at high risk for seismic activity.
In January of 2012 (see UN Agency Warns On Global Seismic Risks), the United Nations International Strategy For Disaster Reduction (UNIDSR.Org) issued a cautionary warning about ignoring seismic threats.
Last month, during National Preparedness Month, we looked at the seismic risks for the United States in #NatlPrep: Half Of All Americans Need An Earthquake Plan.
For more on earthquake preparedness, both here in the United States, and around the world, you may wish to revisit:
California Quakes : Concrete Concerns
Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake
USGS/OGS Joint Statement On Increased Earthquake Threat To Oklahoma
