Earthquake tremors in the Pollino

[june]

Hi Doug

I read the piece below on a San Nicola Arcella site. I was just wondering if you know anything about it or if you felt it. The piece was translated by google translate so might have a few errors!

"An earthquake would be felt in the towns of Castelluccio Inferiore, Castellucccio Upper Viggianello, Acquaformosa, Aieta, Lungro, Morano Calabro, San Basile, Ninea San Donato, San Nicola Arcella, Santa Domenica Talao, Tortora and Verbicaro.
The quake was recorded by seismographs of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in the province of Cosenza, the pollen. The quake occurred on the morning of Monday 4 to 08:38 with a Richter magnitude of 2 degrees at a depth of 6.5 km."

Regards,
June & Dermot

[Doug]

Hi,
No, we have not felt anything. We lived 15 miles from an active site in the US that averaged 3 on the Richter scale and we never felt those either. I think it takes something in the 5-6 range to be felt or noticed.

[annetigano]

Got the following from a site that shows all earthquakes in Italy twitter.com/italyquakes
We are in Scalea and did not feel anything. Nobody locally seems to have mentioned it either.

2010 October 09 - 07:26:05


An earthquake has occurred at 05h19m25.00s (UTC) on 2010/10/09. The magnitude(Ml) 2.1 event has been located in Monte_Alpi-Sirino.
(This event has been reviewed by a seismologist)


EventID 2214433580
Mag(Ml) 2.1
Date-Time 2010/10/09 at 05h19m25.00s (UTC)
= Coordinated Universal Time
Location 39.90°N, 15.96°E
Depth 6.50 km
Region Monte_Alpi-Sirino
Distance Comune, Provincia, Distanza
Mormanno, COSENZA, 2.7Km
Laino Castello, COSENZA, 5.5Km
Papasidero, COSENZA, 5.5Km
Laino Borgo, COSENZA, 6.2Km
Rotonda, POTENZA, 9.1Km
Castelluccio Inferiore, POTENZA, 11.7Km
Orsomarso, COSENZA, 11.9Km
Aieta, COSENZA, 12Km
Castelluccio Superiore, POTENZA, 12.4Km
Santa Domenica Talao, COSENZA, 12.5Km
Viggianello, POTENZA, 13.6Km
Tortora, COSENZA, 14.1Km
San Nicola Arcella, COSENZA, 15.1Km
Praia a Mare, COSENZA, 15.3Km
Morano Calabro, COSENZA, 16.2Km
Verbicaro, COSENZA, 16.3Km
Scalea, COSENZA, 17.1Km
Lauria, POTENZA, 19.5Km
Santa Maria del Cedro, COSENZA, 19.8Km
San Basile, COSENZA, 20.1Km

[june]

Hi Annetigano

I only queried this with Doug as I thought it was strange that it was reported to be felt in all these towns when it was such a small magnitude. Also San Nicola Arcella was mentioned in the report I read and we have a house there so it was of some interest. I suppose these happen all the time and they are so small we dont hear about it.

regards
June

[chrisellis]

Hi Doug!
Chris Ellis here. I was up in Santa Domenica Talao last week and I saw you but didn't know it was you or I would have introduced myself. I really thought you were a local Italian! I was the blonde lady taking photos and said "Buonaserra" to you. Later my husband said you talked to him and Carolyn. I only found out it was you after we left. We had a great trip there and have our eyes on a house. We are hoping the dollar will recover some in the next few months. Then we plan to make our move. We shoudl be back in March, hopefully to close a deal and start setting up house. I sm bummed that we did not get the chance to meet you and Di but there are many future trips planned. I have to say that you and Di have chosen the most beautiful place on earth to live and I admire that. See you soon!
Chris

[chrisellis]

Yes! Isn't it weird that when it comes time to spend the world economy goes completely our of your favor. Last June the Euro was down to $1.29 at one point. Now it is up to $1.4 plus!!! It si like surfing so we will just ride it out. I understand that your remodel is going well. I do love your tile but the house we picked is bigger than the spare tile you have leftover otherwise I would be all over it once we closed on the house. I really enjoy your blog. I check it regularly for updates and photos. Honestly this is the most beautiful place in the world. Pete and I will try to find you next time we are out. See you soon!
Chris

[Doug]

Chris,
Sending you a private message. Ciao, D&D

[Dermot Brophy]

Thank you, Doug. Like June, I had become just a little anxious about the earthquake's proximity, although I didn't actually feel anything. Mind you, some of the thunder-claps we've been having recently DO shake the whole house!

These Richter scale numbers mean very little to most of us, so it was reassuring to get the thing into perspective.

regards to all.

Dermot

[chrisellis]

When I started looking at homes in Calabria I read about earthquakes and I found it interesting that the older houses were still standing while the newer ones collapsed. What I found out was this: That the proper use of shear walls in a building work to keep a building stabilized and when these walls are supporting the house underneath they go a long way to keeping them up. When I looked at the houses here I noticed several things, first many of them had smaller rooms and bedrooms at the bottom that created shearwalls and support. Secondly the walls are very thick and secure. And third, that the houses are built very close together and rely on each other for support. They are like giant honeycombs. From what I read, the buildings that collapsed were the ones that had large open parking areas underneath the buildings that did not give enough support to the heavy floors built above them and collapsed. The old builders in the area naturally built buildings that were really very safe. They have been standing for hundreds of years and probably will for hundreds more. I am no engineer and this is just info I found online so take it with a grain of salt but it made me feel better.
Chris
PS Doug, if you sent me a message I did not get it for some reason. Can you resend it?
Thanks!
See you soon!
Chris

[Doug]

You're probably right-on with the stress wall thing Chris. Insurance is just one of those awful things you have to decide on -- whether to risk going without it or not. The only reason I even thought of earthquakes is the high risk zone we live in. All the other "normal" risks you have in the states don't worry me here. Brush fires cannot burn these buildings down. The crime rate is quite low. And, supposedly, Italians are not as litigious as Americans if someone slips on your step and breaks an ankle! With earthquake coverage costing about 1.5 times as much as the normal policy at €500, we're accepting the risk. As residents, the government is supposed to provide us aid if needed. You heard how long it took for the Abruzzo victims last year. TTFN

I sent another PM with our email address