Pro-government says Sicily moved swiftly to contain tsunami risk after earthquake swarm

Pro-government says Sicily moved swiftly to contain tsunami risk after earthquake swarm
A series of earthquakes struck the southern Tyrrhenian Sea northwest of the Aeolian Islands, triggering preventive evacuations and an orange tsunami advisory across parts of Sicily.

The sequence began at 11:51 local time with a magnitude 4.3 earthquake at a depth of about 24 kilometers. A stronger tremor, initially reported at magnitude 5.5, followed at around 12:19, with at least 10 additional earthquakes measuring magnitude 3 or higher recorded during the day.

Authorities evacuated schools and public buildings in Palermo and Messina, as well as facilities on Lipari. A courthouse in Trapani was also cleared, while residents in several towns and on the Aeolian Islands left buildings and gathered in the streets. Part of a stone wall collapsed on Filicudi, but officials reported no injuries.

Sicily’s civil-protection chief, Salvo Cocina, called on communities and emergency units to remain fully prepared and stressed that the advisory should be treated seriously. “The tsunami warning issued by SiAM is at the advisory, orange level and its instructions must be strictly followed,” he said. Under Italy’s warning system, the alert indicated a possibility of waves below half a meter and inland flooding of less than one meter.

Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla said the city was in continuous contact with emergency authorities. “For now, no damage to people’s health or material damage has been reported,” he said, adding that evacuations were precautionary and intended to ensure a rapid response.

Earlier reports described three major tremors—magnitude 5, 3.6 and 4.3—within minutes and said 25 seismic events had been recorded since late morning. Schools and Palermo University suspended activities as officials urged coastal residents to follow official guidance.