Two quakes shake Tuscany, no damage found so far

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake was recorded on Thursday morning near Pistoia, the latest in a sequence of tremors affecting northern Tuscany since Wednesday. According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the quake occurred at 9:40 a.m. local time about 7 kilometres north of Pistoia, at a depth of 52 kilometres.

A sequence of tremors across northern Tuscany

The latest shock follows a magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded on Wednesday morning near Fosdinovo, a small town in the province of Massa Carrara, in the north-western part of Tuscany close to the Ligurian border. That quake, at a depth of around 11 kilometres, was widely felt across a broad area, including the Versilia coast, Lucca, La Spezia and parts of Liguria.

A smaller aftershock of magnitude 2.0 was later recorded in the same area, suggesting ongoing seismic activity along the same fault system.

Thursday’s earthquake near Pistoia was deeper and occurred further inland, but was also felt in several parts of Tuscany, including Florence, according to initial reports from residents.

No damage reported, checks ongoing

Local authorities reported no immediate damage following Wednesday’s earthquake. The provincial Civil Protection system in Massa Carrara said initial inspections did not reveal harm to people or buildings.

Despite the lack of reported damage, precautionary measures were taken. Several municipalities in Lunigiana and the city of Carrara ordered the temporary closure of schools while structural checks were carried out. Similar decisions were made in parts of Versilia, including Pietrasanta and Seravezza, while inspections were also launched in Viareggio.

The Prefecture of Massa Carrara activated the emergency coordination centre, bringing together local mayors, emergency services and law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation and coordinate checks across the territory.

Following Thursday’s tremor near Pistoia, further assessments are expected, particularly in areas closer to the epicentre.

Context: seismic activity in Tuscany

Tuscany is not among Italy’s most seismically active regions, but earthquakes are not uncommon, particularly in the Apennine areas and in the north-western provinces bordering Liguria and Emilia-Romagna.

The recent sequence does not necessarily indicate a major seismic event, but authorities typically maintain heightened monitoring in the hours and days following shocks of this magnitude.

Practical information

• In case of further tremors, residents are advised to follow Civil Protection guidance and avoid unsafe buildings.
• Updates are usually published by regional authorities and the Italian Civil Protection Department.
• Schools and public offices may reopen or remain closed depending on the outcome of structural inspections.

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