Terremoto

Italy is a seismic active region as frequent Earthquakes demonstrate albeit lesser in magnitude compared to other seismic active regions of this world. The reason is the so-called Apulian heel of the African plate pushing the Appenine, the mountain range along the Italian peninsula at its western edge towards the Alps. This scratching of the Eurasian and African plate generates strain which accumulates up to a certain point until it is released at once in a quake. Depending on the released energy the quake is larger or lower in magnitude which together with the local setting (e.g. the material of the underground and the buildings) is related to damage and casualties it may cause.

You probable have heard from the news that two days ago the Abruzzo region was hit again by a strong Earthquake while still not recovered from the devastating quake in August last year (24 Aug 2016). A hotel was destroyed by a avalanche triggered by the quake and people are still missing. The quake was also felt in the Rome area where schools and undergrounds where evacuated. Many of my colleagues felt it in their offices but not me.

It seems that my equilibrium sense has lost sensitivity since I am living on the boat and being swayed into sleep by the sea every night.

This definitely was not always the case as I still remember well the L'Acquila quake which we experienced in our flat in Frascati some 100 km away from the epicentrum early morning at 3:30, 6 April 2009. It felt like somebody starting a jack-hammer next to you. Very noisy and with a high frequency tremulousness.

It also happened that I was in Washington D.C., 23 August 2011 when the Washington quake occurred which somehow was a geological mystery (see e.g. here).  It felt totally different, much quieter, longer waves and you could see walls moving forth and back, followed by trembling noise caused by the glas fronts of the office blocks in Washington. Very scary!

 Let's pray for the missing people and wish the rescue teams all luck needed.