Earthquakes in Acireale
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 = 0.212 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).
The “area” is Acireale plus nearby towns.
The seismic history of Acireale
The earthquakes that were actually felt in Acireale over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).
- 2018VIII26 December 2018
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Fleri earthquake (M5.0), epicentre 5 km away · observed at Mazzasette
- 1914VIII8 May 1914
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Linera (S. Venerina) earthquake (M5.2), epicentre 3 km away · observed at Santa Maria Ammalati
- 1911VIII15 October 1911
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Fondo Macchia (Giarre) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 8 km away · observed at Mangano
- 1894VIII-IX8 August 1894
Destructive: many buildings partly or fully collapse.
Etna - Mazzasette (Acireale) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 5 km away · observed at Mazzasette
- 1894VIII8 August 1894
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Mazzasette (Acireale) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 5 km away · observed at Tavola Bue
- 1894VIII8 August 1894
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Mazzasette (Acireale) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 5 km away · observed at Pennisi
- 1894VIII8 August 1894
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Mazzasette (Acireale) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 5 km away · observed at Zaccanazzo
- 1879VIII17 June 1879
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Bongiardo (S. Venerina) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 6 km away · observed at Guardia
- 1879VIII17 June 1879
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Etna - Bongiardo (S. Venerina) earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 6 km away · observed at Santa Maria Ammalati
- 1818IX20 February 1818
Destructive: many buildings partly or fully collapse.
Catanese earthquake (M6.3), epicentre 4 km away · observed at Aci Platani
- 1693X-XI11 January 1693
Catastrophic: very few buildings remain standing; landslides and ground cracks.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M7.3), epicentre 56 km away · observed at Aci Platani
- 1693X11 January 1693
Completely destructive: most buildings are destroyed.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M7.3), epicentre 56 km away
…and 730 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?
Acireale records more quakes 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 Catania23 events · 30gSicily region126 events · 30gFrequently asked questions
Were there earthquakes today in Acireale?
No, no quakes were recorded today in the Acireale area: the latest nearby dates back to 5 days ago.
Is Acireale a seismic area?
Acireale 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 Acireale?
In the last ~12 years of INGV data, the strongest within 30 km of Acireale was magnitude 4.9, in 2018.
When was the last quake near Acireale?
The last quake recorded within 30 km of Acireale was 5 days ago.
Tip. Click a nearby town to explore its seismicity.
Data: INGV — National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CC-BY 4.0)