Earthquakes today in Balestrate
Today, within 30 km: no earthquakes recorded (updated at 13:13). Latest: M1.9 on 21 September 2026 at 11:54, 3 km North of Salaparuta, 14 km deep.
Seismic activity within 30 km
30 km radiusINGV catalogue epicentres of the last ~12 years, within the given radius from the town centre.
How seismic is Balestrate: zone 2
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 = 0.125 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).
“Within 30 km”: epicentres less than 30 km from the centre of Balestrate. “In the town”: quakes whose nearest town to the epicentre is Balestrate.
The seismic history of Balestrate
The earthquakes that were actually felt in Balestrate over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).
- 2005NF21 November 2005
Imperceptible: only instruments record it.
Sicilia centrale earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 108 km away
- 2004NF5 May 2004
Imperceptible: only instruments record it.
Isole Eolie earthquake (M5.4), epicentre 165 km away
- 2002V6 September 2002
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Tirreno meridionale earthquake (M5.9), epicentre 68 km away
- 1999NF30 December 1999
Imperceptible: only instruments record it.
Tirreno meridionale earthquake (M4.8), epicentre 97 km away
- 1998NF17 January 1998
Imperceptible: only instruments record it.
Golfo di Castellammare earthquake (M4.8), epicentre 43 km away
- 1981II7 June 1981
Very light: felt only by a few people at rest, on upper floors.
Mazara del Vallo earthquake (M4.9), epicentre 63 km away
- 1976III-IV12 October 1976
Moderate: felt by many indoors; glasses and dishes rattle.
Valle del Belice earthquake (M4.4), epicentre 31 km away
- 1968VI-VII15 January 1968
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Valle del Belice earthquake (M6.4), epicentre 33 km away
- 1954II20 November 1954
Very light: felt only by a few people at rest, on upper floors.
Sicilia centro-occidentale earthquake (M4.2), epicentre 16 km away
- 1910NF17 February 1910
Imperceptible: only instruments record it.
Isola di Ustica earthquake (M4.2), epicentre 75 km away
- 1908III28 December 1908
Light: felt by few people, like a passing truck.
Stretto di Messina earthquake (M7.1), epicentre 234 km away
- 1823V5 March 1823
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Sicilia settentrionale earthquake (M5.8), epicentre 117 km away
…and 2 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 22 km from Southern Tyrrhenian S, 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).
Over time within 30 km
Earthquake map within 30 km
60 eventsLatest earthquakes within 30 km
Nearby towns
How does it compare with the surroundings?
Balestrate is about average for its province in recorded quakes.
Each quake is attributed to the town closest to its epicentre: the numbers describe the area, not the municipal territory alone.
Context
Province of Palermo2 events · last 30 daysSicily region176 events · last 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Were there earthquakes near Balestrate today?
No, no quakes were recorded today within 30 km of Balestrate. The latest dates back to 21 September 2026.
Is Balestrate a seismic area?
Balestrate 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 Balestrate?
In the INGV catalogue since 2015, the strongest earthquake within 30 km of Balestrate was magnitude 3.5, on 9 September 2020.
When was the last quake near Balestrate?
The last quake recorded within 30 km of Balestrate dates back to 21 September 2026, magnitude 1.9.
Tip. Click a nearby town to explore its seismicity.
Sources:INGV earthquake catalogueDBMI15 macroseismic historyCivil Protection seismic classification
Data: INGV — National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CC-BY 4.0)