Earthquakes today in Noto
Today, within 30 km: no earthquakes recorded (updated at 14:48). Latest: M1.6 on 29 September 2026 at 19:52, 7 km North-West of Modica, 19 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 Noto: zone 1
The most severe class: strong earthquakes are possible here and buildings follow the strictest anti-seismic rules.
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 = 0.165 g (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, rigid soil).
“Within 30 km”: epicentres less than 30 km from the centre of Noto. “In the town”: quakes whose nearest town to the epicentre is Noto.
The seismic history of Noto
The earthquakes that were actually felt in Noto over the centuries, with the intensity observed on site (Mercalli MCS scale).
- 1990V16 December 1990
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Ionio meridionale earthquake (M4.4), epicentre 62 km away
- 1990VI13 December 1990
Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M5.6), epicentre 63 km away
- 1964V2 May 1964
Rather strong: felt by almost everyone; hanging objects swing.
Monti Iblei earthquake (M4.2), epicentre 17 km away
- 1908VII28 December 1908
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Stretto di Messina earthquake (M7.1), epicentre 157 km away · observed at Calabernardo
- 1908VI28 December 1908
Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.
Stretto di Messina earthquake (M7.1), epicentre 157 km away
- 1903VI10 February 1903
Strong: felt by everyone, many get scared; objects fall, first light damage to buildings.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M4.3), epicentre 8 km away
- 1848VII11 January 1848
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Golfo di Catania earthquake (M5.5), epicentre 69 km away
- 1727VII-VIII7 January 1727
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Val di Noto earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 9 km away · observed at Noto Antica
- 1727VI-VII7 January 1727
Very strong: hard to stand; chimneys and roof tiles fall, serious damage to weaker buildings.
Val di Noto earthquake (M4.6), epicentre 9 km away
- 1693X-XI11 January 1693
Catastrophic: very few buildings remain standing; landslides and ground cracks.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M7.3), epicentre 34 km away · observed at Noto Antica
- 1693VIII-IX9 January 1693
Destructive: many buildings partly or fully collapse.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M6.1), epicentre 34 km away · observed at Noto Antica
- 1542VIII10 December 1542
Ruinous: partial collapses in ordinary buildings, widespread heavy damage.
Sicilia sud-orientale earthquake (M6.7), epicentre 43 km away · observed at Noto Antica
…and 42 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 24 km from Scicli-Giarratana, 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?
Noto 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 Siracusa7 events · last 30 daysSicily region176 events · last 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Were there earthquakes near Noto today?
No, no quakes were recorded today within 30 km of Noto. The latest dates back to 29 September 2026.
Is Noto a seismic area?
Noto is classified in seismic zone 1 by the Civil Protection. The most severe class: strong earthquakes are possible here and buildings follow the strictest anti-seismic rules.
What was the strongest earthquake near Noto?
In the INGV catalogue since 2015, the strongest earthquake within 30 km of Noto was magnitude 4.2, on 8 February 2016.
When was the last quake near Noto?
The last quake recorded within 30 km of Noto dates back to 29 September 2026, magnitude 1.6.
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)