Earthquakes in Melfi
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 = 0.199 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).
The “area” is Melfi plus nearby towns.
The seismic history of Melfi
The earthquakes that were actually felt in Melfi over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).
- 1980VII23 November 1980
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M6.8), epicentre 35 km away
- 1930IX23 July 1930
Destructive: many buildings partly or fully collapse.
Irpinia earthquake (M6.7), epicentre 25 km away
- 1910VII7 June 1910
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M5.8), epicentre 22 km away
- 1857VII16 December 1857
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Basilicata earthquake (M7.1), epicentre 78 km away
- 1851X14 August 1851
Completely destructive: most buildings are destroyed.
Vulture earthquake (M6.5), epicentre 9 km away
- 1851VIII-IX14 August 1851
Destructive: many buildings partly or fully collapse.
Vulture earthquake (M5.5), epicentre 5 km away
- 1732VI-VII29 November 1732
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Irpinia earthquake (M6.8), epicentre 47 km away
- 1731VII20 March 1731
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Tavoliere delle Puglie earthquake (M6.3), epicentre 30 km away
- 1731VII20 March 1731
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Tavoliere delle Puglie earthquake (M6.3), epicentre 30 km away · observed at Leonessa
- 1694VIII8 September 1694
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M6.7), epicentre 26 km away
- 1694VII8 September 1694
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (M6.7), epicentre 26 km away · observed at Leonessa
- 1456VIII5 December 1456
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Appennino centro-meridionale earthquake (M7.2), epicentre 81 km away
…and 48 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 sits above this source area: the deep structure where this area's earthquakes can originate.
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?
Melfi 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 Melfi?
No, no quakes were recorded today in the Melfi area: the latest nearby dates back to 19 days ago.
Is Melfi a seismic area?
Melfi 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 Melfi?
In the last ~12 years of INGV data, the strongest within 30 km of Melfi was magnitude 2.9, in 2023.
When was the last quake near Melfi?
The last quake recorded within 30 km of Melfi was 19 days ago.
Tip. Click a nearby town to explore its seismicity.
Data: INGV — National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CC-BY 4.0)