Series of earthquakes strike off the coast of Sicily

A series of earthquakes occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026, in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, north-west of the Aeolian Islands. According to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the most significant tremor was recorded at 12:19 local time. Sources provide conflicting data on the magnitude, with one reporting 5.0 and another citing 5.7 on the Richter scale, both occurring at a focal depth of approximately nine kilometers. The seismic activity followed earlier tremors of 4.3 and 3.6 magnitude recorded earlier that morning.

The tremors were felt across Sicily, including Palermo and Messina, as well as in Reggio Calabria. Authorities initiated precautionary evacuations of schools and public buildings in these regions, and the fire department received numerous distress calls. An initial orange tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas but was canceled approximately one hour later after no sea-level changes were detected. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla confirmed that no injuries or material damages were reported in the city following the initial inspections. Currently, emergency services continue to monitor the situation, and local officials are conducting further assessments of public infrastructure.