An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck southern Italy in the early hours of Tuesday, with its epicenter about 68 kilometers north of Naples and near the town of Piedimonte Matese, according to initial seismological data.

The tremor was recorded at 00:03:55 local Italian time.

The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated at 6.0 on the Richter scale, while the focal depth was estimated at 11 kilometers, which classifies it as a relatively shallow earthquake, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC).

The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 68 kilometers north of Naples (a city with a population of about 959,000) and about 14 kilometers northeast of Piemonte Matese (a city with a population of about 11,200).

The area is located in the Apennine zone, which is characterized by strong seismic activity due to the geological structure of the Italian peninsula.

So far, there are no official reports of damage or casualties, while local authorities and civil protection services are monitoring the development of seismic activity.