Province of Bologna

Earthquakes in Valsamoggia

2.2
light
LATEST QUAKE

2 km South-West of Zocca

8 hours ago · 24 Aug, 23:59
Depth 27 km

Seismic activity in the surroundings

30 km radius
Today
days since the last quake nearby
1,078
quakes recorded since 2014
~4 days
on average, one quake every
3.8
The strongest within 30 km
3 km East of Gaggio Montano
16 months ago · 3 May, 05:08

INGV catalogue epicentres of the last ~12 years, within the given radius from the town centre.

How seismic is this area?

Zone3
Seismic zone 3

Medium-low seismicity: strong quakes are rare, but not impossible.

Official Civil Protection classification (upd. 2025), used for building codes.

Medium
Expected shaking, compared with the other Italian municipalities (INGV MPS04 model)

Hazard describes the long-term expected shaking: it is not a forecast. Technical value: ag = 0.161 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).

Closest earthquake
Earthquake details
1
In the town
total on record
0
In the town
last 12 months
22
In the area
last 12 months
M3.3
Strongest ever
In the area

The “area” is Valsamoggia plus nearby towns.

Last earthquake: 26 months ago · 29,427 inhabitants

The seismic history of Valsamoggia

The earthquakes that were actually felt in Valsamoggia over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).

  1. 1983VI9 November 1983

    Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.

    Parmense earthquake (M5.0), epicentre 75 km away · observed at Valsamoggia (Bazzano)

  2. 1929VI-VII11 May 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.3), epicentre 6 km away · observed at Monteveglio

  3. 1929VI-VII11 May 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.3), epicentre 6 km away · observed at Castello di Serravalle

  4. 1929VI-VII22 April 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.1), epicentre 6 km away · observed at Castello di Serravalle

  5. 1929VI-VII22 April 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.1), epicentre 6 km away · observed at Monteveglio

  6. 1929VII20 April 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.4), epicentre 7 km away · observed at Calcara

  7. 1929VII20 April 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.4), epicentre 7 km away · observed at Monteveglio

  8. 1929VII20 April 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.4), epicentre 7 km away · observed at Crespellano

  9. 1929VI-VII20 April 1929

    Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.4), epicentre 7 km away · observed at Pragatto

  10. 1929VI19 April 1929

    Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.1), epicentre 11 km away · observed at Crespellano

  11. 1505VIII3 January 1505

    Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.6), epicentre 14 km away · observed at Confortino

  12. 1505VII-VIII3 January 1505

    Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.

    Bolognese earthquake (M5.6), epicentre 14 km away · observed at Valsamoggia (Bazzano)

…and 82 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.

15016.0
Modenese earthquake
5 June 1501 · 22 km from here
IXDestructive: many buildings partly or fully collapse.
20125.9
Pianura emiliana earthquake
29 May 2012 · 46 km from here
VIIIRuinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
17255.7
Appennino tosco-emiliano earthquake
29 October 1725 · 46 km from here
VIIIRuinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
15055.6
Bolognese earthquake
3 January 1505 · 14 km from here
VIIIRuinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.

Source: Parametric Catalogue of Italian Earthquakes CPTI15 (INGV, CC BY 4.0).

The closest seismic structure

Castelvetro di Modena-Castel San Pietro Terme

The town sits above this source area: the deep structure where this area's earthquakes can originate.

estimated maximum magnitude 6.8between 2 and 8 km deep

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

August 20266eventsmax 2.2
Oct
Jan '25
Apr
Jul
Oct
Jan '26
Apr
Jul

Earthquake map

60 events
Magnitude:lightweakmoderatestrong

Earthquakes in the area

2.2
2 km South-West of Zocca
13 km South-West · 27 km
8 hours ago
24 Aug, 23:59
2.1
4 km East of Zocca
10 km South-West · 23 km
23 hours ago
24 Aug, 09:30
1.2
3 km North of Zocca
9 km South-West · 29 km
yesterday
24 Aug, 07:33
1.8
1 km South-West of Zocca
12 km South-West · 24 km
yesterday
24 Aug, 02:15
1.6
4 km South of Monte San Pietro
6 km South-East · 18 km
yesterday
24 Aug, 02:12
2.1
14 days ago
11 Aug, 11:16
2.4
3 km East of Zocca
9 km South-West · 8 km
2 months ago
1 Jul, 06:54
1.3
6 km East of Zocca
10 km South · 23 km
4 months ago
21 Apr, 13:00
1.2
5 km West of Grizzana Morandi
23 km South · 10 km
4 months ago
20 Apr, 20:52
1.2
5 months ago
7 Apr, 16:29

Nearby towns

How does it compare with the surroundings?

Valsamoggia is quieter than the average of its province.

quietermore active
More epicentres than 31% of the 55 towns in the province.
Valsamoggia1
Nearby towns average26

Each quake is attributed to the town closest to its epicentre: the numbers describe the area, not the municipal territory alone.

Context

Province of Bologna16 events · 30gEmilia-Romagna region45 events · 30g
ISTAT code: 037061

Frequently asked questions

Were there earthquakes today in Valsamoggia?

No, no quakes were recorded today in the Valsamoggia area: the latest nearby dates back to 8 hours ago.

Is Valsamoggia a seismic area?

Valsamoggia is classified in seismic zone 3 by the Civil Protection. Medium-low seismicity: strong quakes are rare, but not impossible.

What was the strongest earthquake near Valsamoggia?

In the last ~12 years of INGV data, the strongest within 30 km of Valsamoggia was magnitude 3.8, in 2025.

When was the last quake near Valsamoggia?

The last quake recorded within 30 km of Valsamoggia was 8 hours ago.

Tip. Click a nearby town to explore its seismicity.

Data: INGV — National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CC-BY 4.0)

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