Earthquakes in Acerenza
Seismic activity in the surroundings
30 km radiusINGV catalogue epicentres of the last ~12 years, within the given radius from the town centre.
How seismic is this area?
A zone where strong earthquakes are possible: new buildings follow strict anti-seismic criteria.
Official Civil Protection classification (upd. 2025), used for building codes.
Hazard describes the long-term expected shaking: it is not a forecast. Technical value: ag = 0.134 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).
The “area” is Acerenza plus nearby towns.
The seismic history of Acerenza
The earthquakes that were actually felt in Acerenza over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).
- 1998IV-V7 April 1998
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Valle dell'Ofanto earthquake (M4.3), epicentre 35 km away
- 1991VI-VII26 May 1991
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Potentino earthquake (M5.1), epicentre 16 km away
- 1990IV28 August 1990
Moderate: felt by many indoors; glasses and dishes rattle.
Potentino earthquake (M4.2), epicentre 9 km away
- 1990VI-VII5 May 1990
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Potentino earthquake (M5.8), epicentre 18 km away
- 1983V2 February 1983
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Potentino earthquake (M4.3), epicentre 30 km away
- 1980VI23 November 1980
Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M6.8), epicentre 55 km away
- 1962V21 August 1962
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Irpinia earthquake (M6.2), epicentre 95 km away
- 1930VII-VIII23 July 1930
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Irpinia earthquake (M6.7), epicentre 59 km away
- 1910V7 June 1910
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M5.8), epicentre 44 km away
- 1857VI-VII16 December 1857
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Basilicata earthquake (M7.1), epicentre 51 km away
- 1851VI14 August 1851
Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.
Vulture earthquake (M6.5), epicentre 28 km away
- 1694VI8 September 1694
Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M6.7), epicentre 45 km away
…and 24 more documented effects in this town's history.
Source: Italian Macroseismic Database DBMI15 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).
The great earthquakes in this area's history
Almost a thousand years of catalogues: the strongest documented events within ~50 km.
Source: Parametric Catalogue of Italian Earthquakes CPTI15 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).
The closest seismic structure
The town lies about 14 km from Baragiano-Palagianello, one of the seismic structures mapped by INGV geologists.
Faults are mapped to build better and understand the territory: knowing them says nothing about when an earthquake will occur, which remains unpredictable. Source: DISS 3.3 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).
Area over time
Earthquake map
60 eventsEarthquakes in the area
Nearby towns
How does it compare with the surroundings?
Acerenza is quieter than the average of its province.
Each quake is attributed to the town closest to its epicentre: the numbers describe the area, not the municipal territory alone.
Context
Province of Potenza26 events · 30gBasilicata region31 events · 30gFrequently asked questions
Were there earthquakes today in Acerenza?
No, no quakes were recorded today in the Acerenza area: the latest nearby dates back to 9 days ago.
Is Acerenza a seismic area?
Acerenza is classified in seismic zone 2 by the Civil Protection. A zone where strong earthquakes are possible: new buildings follow strict anti-seismic criteria.
What was the strongest earthquake near Acerenza?
In the last ~12 years of INGV data, the strongest within 30 km of Acerenza was magnitude 4.2, in 2025.
When was the last quake near Acerenza?
The last quake recorded within 30 km of Acerenza was 9 days ago.
Tip. Click a nearby town to explore its seismicity.
Data: INGV — National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CC-BY 4.0)