1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake

1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake
Photo of the partially collapsed ceiling vault of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi after the earthquake
1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake is located in Italy
1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake
UTC time1997-09-26 09:40:26
ISC event1043512
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date26 September 1997 (1997-09-26)
Local time11:40
Magnitude6.0 Mw
Depth10 km (6.2 mi)
Epicenter43°05′02″N 12°48′43″E / 43.084°N 12.812°E / 43.084; 12.812
Areas affectedItaly (Umbria, Marche)
Max. intensityMMI X (Extreme)[1]
Casualties11 dead
100 injured
Shake map

The 1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake occurred in the regions of Umbria and Marche, central Italy on the morning of 26 September. It was preceded by a foreshock almost as strong as the main quake. The foreshock occurred at 02:33 CEST (00:33 UTC), rated Mw5.7, and the second – the main shock – occurred at 11:40 CEST (09:40 UTC), rated Mw 6.0. Their epicentre was in Annifo. The mainshock was assigned X (Extreme) and foreshock VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale.[2]

There were several thousands of foreshocks and aftershocks from May 1997 to April 1998, more than thirty of which had a magnitude more than 3.5. Eleven people are known to have died following the shocks.

  1. ^ "M 6.0 – 3 km SSE of Nocera Umbra, Italy". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  2. ^ "M 5.7 – 6 km WSW of Serravalle di Chienti, Italy". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 3 July 2021.