An earthquake which struck the Aeolian Islands at 14.54 yesterday caused no injuries but frightened many people, according to Italian media reports. The tremor, measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, was felt most by bathers on the Valle Muria beach on Lipari, where rocks fell from a cliff into the sea. Some people, running into the sea to escape the falling rocks, were bitten by jellyfish.
Senate Speaker Renato Schifani was in his boat off Lipari when the tremor struck and he saw the falling rocks for himself. Some nearly hit the boat, he said.
A second, small tremor occurred at 21.40 but few people felt it. By that time, tourists and locals alike were out and about enjoying music and refreshments in the streets of Lipari. The rest of the night passed without incident.
Civil Protection Minister Guido Bertolaso lost no time in visiting the area this morning with the Prefect of Messina and the Mayor of Lipari. Mr Bertolaso said that some bathing restrictions on the island had not been observed and that bathers in those zones could have been in danger. Otherwise, he said, the situation is under control.
Geophysicist Enzo Boschi has said that there is no risk of tsunami and that the fall of rocks could have been caused by recent heavy rainfall.
The earthquake that struck Abruzzo in 2009 measured 5.8 on the Richter scale.
