Earthquake with magnitude of ML 4.3 on date 24-12-2018 and time 16:50:10 (UTC) in region 6 km W Zafferana Etnea (CT)

A magnitude ML 4.3 earthquake occured in region: 6 km W Zafferana Etnea (CT), on

  • 24-12-2018 16:50:10 (UTC)
  • 24-12-2018 17:50:10 (UTC +01:00) Italian time

and geographic coordinates (lat, lon) 37.7160, 15.0390 at 2 km depth.

The earthquake was located by: Sala Operativa INGV-OE (Catania).

Search earthquakes: Any within 30 km radius

The values of hypocentral coordinates and magnitude may be revised at a later time as more information becomes available.

Municipalities within 20 km from the epicenter

Distances are determinated based on the geographic coordintes of the (Istat).
Municipality Region Dist Inh Cum Inh
Zafferana Etnea CT 6 9517 9517
Milo CT 7 1087 10604
Santa Venerina CT 9 8592 19196
Sant'Alfio CT 10 1582 20778
Pedara CT 11 14102 34880
Nicolosi CT 11 7463 42343
Trecastagni CT 12 10910 53253
Viagrande CT 13 8563 61816
Ragalna CT 13 3924 65740
Giarre CT 13 27659 93399
Aci Sant'Antonio CT 14 17984 111383
Aci Bonaccorsi CT 14 3524 114907
Mascali CT 15 14282 129189
Riposto CT 15 14838 144027
Belpasso CT 15 28108 172135
Aci Catena CT 16 29851 201986
Tremestieri Etneo CT 16 20589 222575
Mascalucia CT 16 31958 254533
San Pietro Clarenza CT 16 7743 262276
Acireale CT 16 52622 314898
Piedimonte Etneo CT 16 3963 318861
San Giovanni la Punta CT 16 23060 341921
Camporotondo Etneo CT 17 5023 346944
Linguaglossa CT 17 5403 352347
Valverde CT 17 7840 360187
Biancavilla CT 17 24007 384194
Santa Maria di Licodia CT 17 7641 391835
Fiumefreddo di Sicilia CT 17 9623 401458
Gravina di Catania CT 17 25838 427296
San Gregorio di Catania CT 18 11966 439262
Sant'Agata li Battiati CT 18 9479 448741
Adrano CT 19 36122 484863
Paternò CT 19 48228 533091
Bronte CT 20 19172 552263
Maletto CT 20 3920 556183
Randazzo CT 20 10900 567083
Aci Castello CT 20 18723 585806

Municipalities with at least 50000 inhabitants

An earthquake occurred to
16 Km NW of Acireale (52622 inhabitants)
24 Km N of Catania (314555 inhabitants)
69 Km SW of Reggio di Calabria (183035 inhabitants)
70 Km SW of Messina (238439 inhabitants)
76 Km N of Siracusa (122291 inhabitants)
90 Km E of Caltanissetta (63360 inhabitants)
92 Km N of Ragusa (73313 inhabitants)
96 Km NE of Vittoria (63339 inhabitants)
98 Km N of Modica (54633 inhabitants)
Recent and historical seismicity

These maps show the seismic activity in different time intervals, before the seismic event to which they refer. Data reported in the first two maps come from the analysis carried out in real time by the personnel of the INGV Operating Rooms, immediately after each earthquake. The third map shows data from 1985 to the date of the earthquake: the locations are reviewed by the seismological analysts of the INGV Italian Seismic Bulletin (Bollettino Sismico Italiano dell’INGV). The localization parameters (hypocentral coordinates and magnitude) are the best possible estimate with the data available to the INGV, but are constantly updated according to further data that become available. The location and magnitude parameters, subsequently reviewed by seismological analysts, may vary.

Earthquakes of the 3 days preceding this event

Earthquakes of the 3 days preceding this event

This map shows the earthquake epicenters with magnitude ≥ 0.0, localized with data recorded by the National Seismic Network and other collaborative networks both in Italy and in neighboring countries, in the 72 hours preceding this event. The size of the circle indicates the different classes of magnitude. The colors indicate the different time intervals preceding the seismic event. The black and white star is the epicenter of the current earthquake.
Earthquakes of the 90 days preceding this event

Earthquakes of the 90 days preceding this event

This map shows the earthquake epicenters with magnitude ≥ 2.0, localized with data recorded by the National Seismic Network and other collaborative networks both in Italy and in neighboring countries, in the 90 days preceding this event. The size of the circle indicates the different classes of magnitude. The colors indicate the different time intervals preceding the seismic event. The black and white star is the epicenter of the current earthquake.
Earthquakes from 1985 to the date of the event

Earthquakes from 1985 to the date of the event

This map shows the earthquake epicenters with magnitude ≥ 3.0, localized with data recorded by the National Seismic Network and other collaborative networks both in Italy and in neighboring countries, from 1985 to the date of this event. The size of the circle indicates the different classes of magnitude. The colors indicate the different time intervals preceding the seismic event. The black and white star is the epicenter of the current earthquake.
Earthquakes since 1000 AD until 2019

Earthquakes since 1000 AD until 2019

This map shows the epicenters of the historical earthquakes catalogue CPT15 (Catalogo Parametrico dei Terremoti Italiani, 2015 version 3.0, https://doi.org/10.13127/cpti/cpti15.3) since 1000 AD until 2019. The size of the square indicates the different classes of magnitude. For earthquakes with magnitude ≥ 6.0, it is also shown the year of occurrence and the magnitude value. The black and white star is the epicenter of the current earthquake.
Seismic hazard

Seismic hazard maps provide probabilistic estimates of the earthquake ground shaking exceeding a given threshold in a given geographic region within a given time window. Thus, it is not a deterministic prediction - a target that may be never reached given the complexity of the earthquake physical phenomenon - nor of the maximum expected earthquake since this has extremely low probabilities to occur.

In 2004, it was published the seismic hazard map of Italy (http://zonesismiche.mi.ingv.it) that provides a picture of the most hazardous geographic regions. The seismic hazard map of Italy (GdL MPS, 2004; rif. Ordinanza PCM del 28 aprile 2006, n. 3519, All. 1b) provides the 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years of the horizontal acceleration at rock sites (i.e., Vs30>800 m/s; cat. A, 3.2.1 of the D.M. 14.09.2005).

The colours indicate the various values of the ground acceleration that have 10% to be exceeded within 50 years. In general, the colours associated to low values of acceleration refer to areas that are less hazardous and stronger earthquakes repeat less frequently although they may still occur.

Seismic hazard map

Seismic hazard map

This map shows the seismic hazard map of Italy for the region where the earthquake occurred.
Shakemap

These three maps show the results of the analysis using the software ShakeMap designed to provide the level of ground shaking experienced in a region using the data recorded by seismometers and strong motion instruments and seismological information regarding the attenuation of the wavefield with distance and the site characteristics. The Shakemaps are determined for research purposes to provide fast estimates of the level of ground shaking produced by the earthquake. The maps are calculated automatically and updated as more data become available. See https://shakemap.ingv.it for additional information. The black star indicates the epicenter. The triangles show the accelerometric and velocimetric stations used in the calculation, colored according to the recorded shaking.

Intensity Shakemap

Intensity Shakemap

This map shows the distribution of instrumental intensities. The intensity is derived through an empirical law that correlates the recorded values of actual ground shaking, e.g., acceleration and velocity, with the macroseismic intensity for Italian earthquakes, as reported in the Italian Macroseismic Database (DBMI15, https://doi.org/10.13127/cpti/cpti15.3).
Peak ground acceleration Shakemap

Peak ground acceleration Shakemap

This map shows the distribution of peak ground acceleration expressed as percent of the acceleration of gravity (i.e., g = 9.81 m/s²).
Peak velocity Shakemap

Peak velocity Shakemap

This map shows the distribution of peak ground velocities expressed in cm/s.
Felt maps
Preliminary map of the earthquake effects from the web questionnaire

Preliminary map of the earthquake effects from the web questionnaire

This map shows the distribution of earthquake resentment in the area, expressed in terms of intensity on the MCS scale (Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg). Intensities are determined using data from questionnaires collected on the website http://www.hsit.it. The intensities shown are determined considering all the reports received from each municipality, and are all the more reliable the greater the number of questionnaires. The collected data are subjected to an automatic statistical filter, but are not checked individually. In particular, intensities greater than or equal to the VI degree of the MCS or EMS scale require on-site verification by specialized personnel. The black star is the epicenter of the earthquake that occurred. This map is updated every time citizens fill out new questionnaires. The number of questionnaires processed to obtain this map, the date and time of the last update are shown at the top right.
Locations history
Type Magnitude Date and Time (UTC) Latitude Longitude Depth (km) Published time (UTC) Author Location ID
Reviewed
Rev200
ML 4.3 2018-12-24
16:50:10
37.716 15.039 2 2018-12-24
17:01:53
Sala Operativa INGV-OE (Catania) 64172921
Preferred location and magnitude until now.
Origin information

Origin

Field Value
Time (UTC) 2018-12-24 16:50:10 ± 0
Latitude 37.7160
Longitude 15.0390
Depth (km) 2 ± 0 (from location)
Evaluation mode of Origin manual
Evaluation status of Origin reviewed
Version 200 -> SURVEY-INGV-CT
Event type earthquake
Origin ID 64172921

Uncertainty

Field Value
Preferred uncertainty description horizontal uncertainty
Semi-major axis of confidence ellipse (meter)
Semi-minor axis of confidence ellipse (meter)
Azimuth of major axis of confidence ellipse. Measured clockwise from South-North direction at epicenter (gradi)
Circular confidence region, given by single value of horizontal uncertainty (meter) 200.0
Confidence level of the uncertainty (%) 68

Quality

Field Value
Largest azimuthal gap in station distribution as seen from epicenter (degree)
Number of associated phases, regardless of their use for origin computation 1
Number of defining phases 1
RMS of the travel time residuals of the arrivals used for the origin computation (sec)
Epicentral distance of station closest to the epicenter (degree)
Epicentral distance of station farthest from the epicenter (degree)
Number of stations at which the event was observed 0
Number of stations from which data was used for origin computation 0
Magnitude information

ML:4.3

Field Value
Value 4.3
Uncertainty 0.2
Num. used stations
Type of magnitude ML
Reference to an origin 64172921
Agency INGV
Autore Sala Operativa INGV-OE (Catania)
Time of creation (UTC) 2018-12-24 17:01:53
TDMT - Time Domain Moment Tensor
Fault Plane solutions in the area
Fault Plane solutions

Fault Plane solutions

The map reports the fault plane solutions for earthquakes in the region from 1977 to the date of this event. Red moment tensors are determined using the Regional Centroid Moment Tensor technique (RCMT, http://www.bo.ingv.it/RCMT) applied for earthquakes with magnitude larger than 4.5 in the Euro-Mediterranenan area. Occasionally, when a station azimuthal coverage exists RCMTs can be obtained also for earthquakes with magnitude down to 4.0. The gray moment tensors are obtained with the Time Domain Moment Tensor method (TDMT, /tdmt). This technique is applied to earthquakes with magnitude ML greater than 3.2, when it is possible. The size of symbols scales with the calculated moment magnitude Mw.
Download
Type Description Link
QuakeML - small Event, Origin, FocalMechanism Download
QuakeML - full Event, Origin, FocalMechanism, Amplitude, Arrival, Pick, Station Magnitude Download
Waveforms Seismic signals in miniseed + resp format Download