Why is Italy hit by so many deadly earthquakes? All you need to know after deadly avalanche in Farindola
ITALY was been hit by a series of earthquakes in 2016, leaving hundreds dead and thousands homeless.
Now, further tremors have sparked an 'apocalyptic' avalanche which engulfed the Hotel Rigopiano in the town of Farindola, with up to 30 feared dead.
This came after three tremors within an hour saw the metro and some schools evacuated in the capital Rome.
But why has the country suffered with so many quakes recently? And is there anything that can be done to stop it?
Why is Italy hit by so many deadly earthquakes?
Earthquakes result from weaknesses in the earth’s crust, such as those that run all the way up the spine of Italy.
When these weaknesses fracture they trigger earthquakes.
The Alps mountain range is formed where these two plates push together, which they are still doing at a rate of 3cm a year.
Minor tremors are common in the country.
Is this a new development?
In 2012 the country was hit by a magnitude 6 quake in Medolla which killed 20 people.
In 2009 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the medieval city of L’Aquila killing close to 300 people.
One of the most devastating was in 1908 when the Sicilian town of Messina was destroyed. Estimates suggest this quake could have killed up to 100,000 people.
In October Italy suffered its most powerful earthquake in 36 years which left more than 15,000 people homeless.
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the earth.
Quakes result from a sudden movement in the earth’s crust, that creates seismic waves.
Earthquakes are most commonly caused by the fracture of the earth’s rock crust, but have also been known to be triggered by events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts and nuclear tests.
On land quakes normally cause tremors, but if they occur at sea they can trigger a tsunami.
Earthquakes are measured by magnitude.
Quakes below magnitude three are generally not noticeable, and only those of five or above are usually reported globally.
A tremor of magnitude seven or higher has the potential to cause serious damage over a large area.
The largest earthquakes in historic times were slightly more than magnitude 9, but there is no limit to the possible magnitude.
What areas are at risk?
There have now been three magnitude-6 tremors in Italy's Apennines region in just three months.
Dr Richard Walters from Durham University told the : “This is an earthquake sequence; these are related events.
“And this triggering of multiple events, sometimes a few days or weeks apart, is well known behaviour."
Areas at risk are concentrated in the central-southern part of the peninsula, along the Apennine ridge, in Calabria and Sicily and in some northern areas, like Friuli, part of Veneto and western Liguria.
Only Sardinia is not particularly affected by seismic events.
What’s the advice for tourists?
The Foreign Office warns that “many parts of Italy lie on a major seismic fault line".
They add: “Minor tremors and earthquakes are almost a daily occurrence.”
They offer advice on what to before, during, and after an earthquake.
What can be done to help?
Every time there is a rumble the resident's response will be quick.
Information will come from the radar satellites that will fly over the Apennines region to map the quake zone.
In 2009, after the L’Aquila earthquake, the state launched a national plan for seismic prevention.
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