What the record shows for Italy
The strongest earthquake on record near Italy is a magnitude 6.9 in 1980, centred 2 km N of Cairano, Italy - 46 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 367 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Italy - roughly 18 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 43 tsunamis within 333 km of Italy between 79 and 1930. The most significant was in 1456 near Bay Of Naples, which killed around 30,000 people.
6 volcanoes are catalogued near Italy, including Colli Albani, Vulsini, Larderello, Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Vesuvius. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Italy lies on the boundary between the African and Eurasian plates, giving it a long history of damaging earthquakes.
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.
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.