Daniele Orlandi A fairly strong earthquake struck Italy on Saturday evening. A magnitude 4.2 earthquake, recorded by the INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), was clearly felt by residents, with numerous reports and people in the streets worried after the earthquake. The first updates on the quake's epicenter and depth are available.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake in Italy: initial data on the hypocenter and epicenter
A fairly strong earthquake was recorded today, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in the evening. It was part of a seismic swarm characterized by several tremors, all occurring in the same area. This swarm has continued since Friday, March 20, when earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 1.9 to 2.4 were recorded.
Further tremors occurred today until 7.04 pm, the INGV recorded the most intense earthquake, of magnitude 4.2.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Messina area, specifically Sant Castel di Lucio, and it was felt by many in both Messina and in areas surrounding the city of Palermo.
The earthquake's hypocenter was located at a depth of approximately 25.7 km. Several other earthquakes of magnitude 3, 3.2, and 3.3 were recorded in the minutes immediately preceding or following it. Residents have expressed concern and posted numerous reports on social media. warned, for a few seconds, the shock.