Italy lies on the boundary between the African and Eurasian plates, giving it a long history of damaging earthquakes. This page pulls real records for Italy: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Italy.
Check Italy hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk near Italy - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Italy - FAQ
Is Italy at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 18 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.9 in 1980.
What was the biggest earthquake in Italy?
The strongest earthquake on record near Italy is M6.9, in 1980 (2 km N of Cairano, Italy), from USGS.
Does Italy get tsunamis?
Yes - 43 tsunamis since 79 (most recently 1930) within 333 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 30,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Italy?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.