Terror in the Mugello, magnitude quake 4.5. Damage to buildings, closed schools

Florence, December 9 – Terror in the night for one earthquake swarm with epicenter between Scarperia, San Piero and Barberino di Mugello (Florence). The most important shock to 4.37 with a magnitude of 4.5. Two minutes later, replication of 3.0 and 4.42 of 3.2. Previously there were two other strong shocks, of magnitude 3.2 and 3.4, respectively at 3.39 (depth 8 km) and 3.42 (depth 9 km) of the night. The swarm has affected a rather large area. The shock from 4.5 was warned in Florence, Prato, Pistoia, Empoli, San Miniato and Montecatini, but also in Bologna, Perugia, Siena and Pisa. They are reported damage to buildings in the Mugello area. Schools closed in Barberino del Mugello, Scarperia and San Piero, Vaglia, Vicchio, Marradi, Dicomano, Vernio and Borgo San Lorenzo.

Thirty-six shocks

The earthquakes that occurred in the Mugello area in the last 12 hours it would be 36 in total, of variable intensity: the strongest, of magnitude 4.5, was recorded by the Ingv at 4.37am. The first earthquake occurred at 8.38 pm on Sunday evening and had its epicenter in Scarperia and San Pietro. The instruments of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology recorded a magnitude of 2.6. The two municipalities, together with that of Barberino del Mugello, they are the epicenter of all the other shocks. The seismic swarm did not stop until around 8 am. Before the stop three shocks of magnitude 3.0 were recorded at 6.17, 3.1 at 6.19 and 3.2 at 6.29.

Suspended trains

Following the earthquake recorded in Mugello railway traffic in the Florence hub was suspended due to technical checks on the lines, but was later rehabilitated at 8.25. The block has affected high speed between Florence and Bologna, in addition to regional traffic. According to reports from Rfi (Italian Railway Network) and from the Civil Protection, they are checks on regional lines are still ongoing. The interested lines would be: AV Bologna – Florence, Bologna – Conventional lawn, Prato – Pistoia, Porretta Terme – Pistoia, Florence – Empoli, Florence – Faenza, Florence – conventional Arezzo and on the Florence – Rome route between Florence and Valdarno.

Panic in Florence

Huge fear for the Florentines after the shock of 4.5, which occurred in the middle of the night. Many had woken up at 3.42 for the shock of 3.4, but that of 4.37 was felt in all the districts of the city, dextending the panic of the residents who in some areas poured into the street. The shock was clearly felt on the whole Apennine ridge, from Emilia Romagna to Umbria.

Damage to buildings, fear among people

Great fear among the people who are there tonight poured into the streets after the series of shocks, the last of which is of magnitude 4.5. Many sleep in cars. Firefighters are performing the checks of the case after some requests for control following thethe appearance of cracks in the walls and falling debris. Damages to the buildings in Barberino would result from the first surveys. "Very scary, people took to the streets, the magnitude 4.5 shock really scared ". It is the testimony of the first citizen of Scarperia San Piero (Florence), Federico Ignesti declaring to Messenger: «For now, the information received from the first inspections carried out by the carabinieri do not seem to detect any damage, even to me no reports have been received in this regard. We also await the light of day for more accurate feedback. Meanwhile, the Intercommunal Civil Protection Operations Center has been activated ».

Cristina Gauri