A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck Sicily at 3:18 a.m. today, in the area around Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna. Italian media reported that 28 people had suffered various injuries and were in shock.
Several buildings were damaged after the latest tremor since Etna erupted on Monday.
Volcanic ash had earlier blanketed nearby villages and flights from Catania airport were temporarily halted.
Residents of the surrounding areas were advised to evacuate as soon as possible. Italian media reported that people in the area were panicked, with some running into the streets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt6vhKUxUr0
Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta expressed her solidarity with the Sicilians in the wake of the Catania earthquake in a tweet. "We are ready to help and support the population in this moment of emergency," she wrote.
28 people have received treatment in hospitals due to the earthquake. Ten people were taken to the hospital by ambulance, while 18 presented themselves. Most of them have minor injuries, some presented in a state of shock or anxiety.
Meanwhile, rail traffic on the Messina-Siracusa and Catania-Palermo lines has been suspended for more than 5 hours.
Security protocols have been activated in case of further tremors. Three regional trains have been replaced by buses and two intercity trains have been delayed by 30 minutes.
Due to the earthquake, Facebook activated Safety Check, a service that allows users at risk to report their status or that, fortunately, everything is fine. If you are safe, just select the option "I am safe" and the status will be updated with a notification: this way, friends and relatives will know in real time that you are safe. If you have friends in the area and the tool is activated, you will be notified of all those who have been marked as safe.
A building collapsed in Fleri: two injured people were pulled from the rubble. Firefighters and ambulances are on the scene. The road is closed. Also in Fleri, other collapses have been recorded and people are trapped in their homes. Broken lamps and gas leaks on the street. "We are alive by a miracle," says a family of 4, mother, father and two minor children, after the walls of their house were destroyed.
