ECHO Daily Flash

published on 27/12/2018

As of 24 December 2018 a seismic activity continues in Sicily due to an eruption of volcano Etna.
On 26 December 2018 a 4.8M earthquake occurred in the Province of Catania, Sicily affecting several municipalities around epicentre. The most affected municipalities are Acicatena, Acireale, Aci Sant’Antonio, Santa Venerina, Viagrande and Zafferana Etnea, which have registered several damages to the buildings and to the cultural heritage.
28 people have been injured and received medical care, and more than 300 people have been sheltered in different public buildings and hotels.
The Italian Civil Protection Department (CPD) convened an Operational Committee in HQ in Rome to provide eventual external support. The CPD Crisis unit is monitoring the situation.
The CPD has sent a team of experts to the affected area, for supporting the local coordination centres activated for the emergency. The CPD, the National Fire brigade and the Regional Civil Protection have also deployed teams of experts in order to assess the damage of the affected buildings.
Italy has not called for international assistance.
Italy triggered the EMS Copernicus satellite mapping service for receiving satellite maps on the volcano activity and affected municipalities.