12088 Earthquake

Just had another slight shake. All our neighbours are up & outside with lights blazing, dogs barking & lots of cars on the roads. Suspect that all families checking out the old folk. Hope all is well for everyone.
Sprat:wideeyed:

We will be going up the hill at first light. Fingers crossed!
Sprat

I was wide awake when it happened, another sleepless night. I had been up making cammomile & mint tea, and kept hearing rattling and a kind of tapping noise. I thought it must be windy & got up several times to look out. No wind to speak off. At 3ish I decided I must try and sleep & had just closed my eyes when, phew, it's quite hard to explain. It felt like violent shifting & shaking the lights went off & on, and Pilch woke up and clutched my hand...He never awakes from noise of any sort. It wasn't the noise it was the movement. A shuddering, a grinding & bumping, rattlings. The whole house just wobbled for 20 seconds. I was watching the mirror on the wardrobe and that looked liquid almost. We still up, and on my 2nd cuppa. No sleep tonight.
Wonder what our 400 year old tower will look like when it gets light. Will it still be standing?
Sprat

so sorry to hear that you had such a shock. Heard about it on B.B.C. Hope everyone is safe and well. Pilchard, I really hope your tower is ok in the morning. There is talk of 4 children having died in the quake and that a university dormitory being buried They also say it was 6.3

We have just come back from the tower. It obviously could have been far worse, but yes it has sustained some damage. I wouldn't let Pilch go inside, so he said he will leave it for a few days & then go in & have a look. From looking around the outside there are signs of damage to the upper part of the tower structure, a bit of damage to the main roof & a general widening of some of the main cracks. One of the vaulted ceilings, the one that was in poor condition has collapsed. The other one cannot be assessed at the moment.
We are so sad to hear of people who have lost their lives. A buildings one thing but lives are quite another.
Pilch

Gosh, I never realised you guys lived there. I slept through it but my husband felt the bed move even up here in Tuscany. We'll be thinking of you today.

How far were the tremors felt in Abruzzo ? They are saying on the news that they were felt in Rome.

Well we are about 40km from L'Aquila. Rome about 60-70km.
Sprat

We were all shaken awake over this close to the coast. We are 77km from L'Aquila. Can only imagine how scary it was for Pilchard and Sprat and obviously all those poor people who lost their loved ones and homes in L'Aquila and Fossa.

How frightening for you all living in Italy near the epicentre.....hope everyone and your homes are ok! Can anyone tell me if tremors were felt in the Amandola, Santa Vitorria area? Keep safe!

Claire

Felt it here as well, who house wobbled like a jelly. Sorry to hear about the damage Pilch and about the loss of lives, sure more reports will come out during the morning when the whole extent can be seen.
Links to the info centre attached.

[url=http://cnt.rm.ingv.it/~earthquake/data_id/2206496920/event.php]INGV - CNT - Evento[/url]
[url=http://cnt.rm.ingv.it/~earthquake/index_web_cnt.php]INGV - CNT - Lista eventi[/url]

We felt it 30 km south of Pescara, The death toll keeps going up as I watch the news on tv, it was 16, ten minutes ago, now they've just said 30. I fear the toll is going to get a lot worse , a lot of the autostrada is closed until the bridges can be checked, it was felt in Naples,Rome and Marche,
with many sleeping in cars .

We felt it quite strongly here but no damage as far as I can see.

Sadly 5 children were killed and a children's home and student halls collapsed. It looks dreadful on the local news.

Hi everyone in the area. I have just seen a Spanish TV report and it has been a very scary thing. Pilch and Sprat, sorry to hear about the tower but the important thing is that you are both well and the building could be fixed.

It was quite bad here in Sulmona. Street light poles waving around and flickering on and off, but clearly not as bad as elsewhere. Seemed to last for a couple of minutes and standing in the front doorway and feeling the whole ground swaying like the deck of a ship was unreal. Haven't been out and about yet to check for damage, nothing serious structurally here just a bit of cracking in the marble flooring internally. I assume anyone with holiday homes in the Sulmona area has someone to check them out, but if help is needed please PM me.

Here is the latest from Sky news [url=http://ow.ly/2aca]Italy Earthquake: Twenty Dead As Quake Of 6.3 Magnitude Shakes Central Italy | World News | Sky News[/url]- felt it here and then some of the after shocks an hour later. So sorry to hear about the lives which have been lost - it really makes you appreciate the fact that we are lucky to be unharmend and our buildings safe.

My best wishes and prayers for everyone in that region and all effected. I felt a big rumbling and noise here in Cesena, plates shaking etc. but it was around 12.00.

We were woken about 3.20 by the wobbling of the bed and rattling of hangars in the wardrobe etc and we are 20 miles south of Rome, in the Colli Albani.I understand the tremors were felt as far south as Naples

It's good to hear that people are ok but tragic to think of those who are not. How far north were the effects felt? Southern Umbria, Tuscany?

My greatest sympathy to everyone living through this difficult time in Abruzzo, I know how scary it is, and how scary it goes on being with constant aftershocks. However, the shaking [I]will [/I]stop, and life [I]will [/I]return to normal - hang onto that idea.
I was woken up last night thinking 'this is a small earthquake' and I'm close to Perugia - so a very long way from l'Aquila.

Hi. Very concerned to about all those affected by this morning's quake. We've just got back home after working on our house in San Benedetto in Perillis, near Popoli, so that could have all been a waste of time.
I've done a search from the USGS site and put the location into google. If this info is accurate, then the epicentre is somewhere north of L'Aquila.
See map image attached. The middle of the image is the coordinates being given on [url=http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/]Index of /eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes[/url]
Hope this helps?

For any of you worried about loved ones or other matters, here is the link to FREE on line Italian TV. [U][I]You will have to register to see them though.[/I][/U]

[COLOR=Red][URL="http://www.guardatv.it/indexa11.php?gclid=CMjB1uCrlJgCFdCS3wodzTuhmw#"][B]Free Italian TV on line[/B][/URL][/COLOR]

Another 3.9 at 9.17 Italian time in the same area. It surely is a nightmare for everyone in the area, especially the rescue workers trying to search for people trapped..
[url=http://cnt.rm.ingv.it/~earthquake/index_web_cnt.php]INGV - CNT - Lista eventi[/url]

I have just heard on Rai News 24 that there is considerable damage in Sulmona too. I know several members have places, or live there. I hope they are all safe, as some haven't been seen on line for a little while and may have been on holiday.

There have been many 'after shocks' in the whole area too.

But there are so many of 'ours' in that area it goes without saying that my prayers are with you all. Keep safe if you can.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all today:sad:

I noticed that Pilchard's post was 3.32 am and that was the exact time the quake was at its peak in L'Aquila, a town we know and so were devasted to see the horrendous photos of the damage and the poor people in blankets. The epicentre was south east of the town at Fossa. It is true what Charles has said and Assisi has certainly benefitted from the quake of 1997. But those who lost their homes lived for years in grim portacabins. We felt no tremors here but cannot switch off from the tragedy. On another thread there will be details of a donation line. It's the best we can do.

[quote]
I have just heard on Rai News 24 that there is considerable damage in Sulmona too. I know several members have places, or live there. I hope they are all safe, as some haven't been seen on line for a little while and may have been on holiday.

There have been many 'after shocks' in the whole area too.

But there are so many of 'ours' in that area it goes without saying that my prayers are with you all. Keep safe if you can.
[/quote]

I was alarmed by the above, since although were both shaken and stirred here in the rural outskirts early this am there were no emergency services sirens to be heard. So I've just driven over to the town and around the old town walls and there is absolutely no sign of any damage, let alone considerable damage. The apartment blocks, cranes, scaffolding, overpasses, the old gates to the town and all the local landmark towers that I have seen are intact. The SS17 is open and functioning normally and there is still no sign of any unusual emergency service activity. I'll cycle over to the town centre itself later this morning to see if there is any damage within the walls of the town, but for the moment this report should not raise undue alarm. If someone without local knowledge has reported a collapsed road hereabouts, then that was due to some serious flooding we had a while ago and certainly not to last night's little episode.

Very sad and worrying time. Let's hope and pray that the death toll is not too high.

B.

Thinking of all of you who were affected also, and hoping you are all safe.
pam

[quote=Roskoboy;115479] How far north were the effects felt? Southern Umbria, Tuscany?[/quote]

We're in southern Tuscany not far from the Umbrian border and everyone (except me) felt it around here by way of beds trembling.

Becareful Violetta or as I seem to recollect Charles will be asking you why only your dressing table didn't shake! (00) !!!

[I]If indoors

DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

Stay there.
Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris
Do not light a match.
Do not move about or kick up dust.
Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.[/I]

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

Hi
OH and I are in JC land Napoli (Naples) in Centro Storico and felt quake here! Our thoughts go out to all affected and hope for swift work to rescue all still trapped.

Felt like a very large heavy lorry trying to get down one of these tiny streets.

[quote][QUOTE]I have just heard on Rai News 24 that there is considerable damage in Sulmona too. I know several members have places, or live there. I hope they are all safe, as some haven't been seen on line for a little while and may have been on holiday.

There have been many 'after shocks' in the whole area too.

But there are so many of 'ours' in that area it goes without saying that my prayers are with you all. Keep safe if you can. [/quote]

I was alarmed by the above, since although were both shaken and stirred here in the rural outskirts early this am there were no emergency services sirens to be heard. So I've just driven over to the town and around the old town walls and there is absolutely no sign of any damage, let alone considerable damage. The apartment blocks, cranes, scaffolding, overpasses, the old gates to the town and all the local landmark towers that I have seen are intact. The SS17 is open and functioning normally and there is still no sign of any unusual emergency service activity. I'll cycle over to the town centre itself later this morning to see if there is any damage within the walls of the town, but for the moment this report should not raise undue alarm. If someone without local knowledge has reported a collapsed road hereabouts, then that was due to some serious flooding we had a while ago and certainly not to last night's little episode.
[/QUOTE]

As promised, for those who are concerned about the situation in Sulmona, at the very corner of the town an area of pavement has been cordoned off, and the occupants of a property are standing around while the vigili del fuoco assess whether a crack in an upper storey between a window and the roof has rendered the building unsafe. I have taken a photograph but it is so relatively trivial that it's not worth uploading. Otherwise our lovely little town is just as I left it on Saturday.

Praying that God gives strength and courage to the rescue teams in Abruzzo today. A special prayer for the young mother who wrapped herself around her baby girl and died protecting her.

[quote]
If only the poor people of L’Aquila could say the same!
[/quote]

Sure, this 'Act of God' raises all sorts of questions and thoughts. Fortunately the actions of the men and women of the health and emergency services are helping to make things more bearable for the survivors. I don't know whether our hospital has been asked to help with the casualties, but an important question worth asking is if any ex-pat has tried to give blood and been declined because of their british origins and the way 'we' handled the BSE crisis (which left doubts in europe as to whether large numbers of brits might be carrying the infective agent). If anyone is able to give an update on this it would be appreciated.

I did post this on another earthquake thread, but just in case it was missed, I thought I should put it here too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whilst I said to myself I'd refrain from posting on this forum any longer, the events of this morning have compelled me to set my feelings to one side.

For those of you that know us, we have a large house on the outskirts of Teramo. We have 2 rooms that are not being used, as it is closed season. There are 5 other bedrooms, but they have no beds.

I know that it is only a small gesture, but with 50,000 people potentially without a home, we would like to offer a roof over a few peoples head for a few days, if they have nowhere to go.

If you know of anyone, desparate for accommodation, we will do what we can for them. Please send me a private message.

but there for the grace........

Russ

Very sad news indeed and my thoughts are for those for who have lost loved ones or without a home.

If anyone is near to the area and can provide help, blood or food please call the Protezione Civile in Pescara on [B]085 2057631[/B] for more information.

If you can donate food please bring what you can with you to:

[B][U]Banco Alimentare dell'Abruzzo, in via Celestino V.[/U][/B]

For anyone wishing to donate blood you can donate at any of the locations listed in the pdf attachment below.

And in case you cannot get through, they have of course a web site with other contact details. - [url=http://www.protezionecivile.it/]Benvenuto nel sito - Protezionecivile.it[/url]

My feelings match everyone elses and there are so many horrific pictures, that the L'Aquila disaster will occupy my thoughts for some time. When we restored our Casa Colonica and showed an English builder friend the photos of the work in progress, he said our house had been over engineered and we were spending far too much....At such a time as this, I think every penny spent to protect us from an earth quake was worth it. A thought I'd like to pass on to those restoring an old building in Italy right now.

I've been following the shocking developments at work all day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this disaster, especially to those IM members who have been affected, My family knows from personal experience what it is like to loose your home to these so called 'Acts of God'.

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.chrislucastrust.com/candle.gif[/IMG][/CENTER]

I think it's all been siad about how we all feel for the victims and families of this awful tragedy. I'm just heartened that the Emegancy Services here are on the ball and were on the scene in less than 30 minutes. They said that they had been having tremours for the past month and so they were expecting something; but who can prepare for this event? I pray that there is no more to come.

Friends here in Marche have suggested that clothing might be a good idea to help, and I am happy to organise this, and email friends not on the forum. Have asked Neilo if she has any contact details, but if anyone else has plse pm me.
Ax

[quote=barn_elms;115531]As promised, for those who are concerned about the situation in Sulmona, at the very corner of the town an area of pavement has been cordoned off, and the occupants of a property are standing around while the vigili del fuoco assess whether a crack in an upper storey between a window and the roof has rendered the building unsafe. I have taken a photograph but it is so relatively trivial that it's not worth uploading. Otherwise our lovely little town is just as I left it on Saturday.[/quote]

You cannot imagine how relieved I am that the newscaster on News24 this morning had been given incorrect information. I repeated it in good faith being aware that several members had homes there. I suppose at that time and with the general confusion that was happening it was understandable that some mistakes could be made.

It is a relief that Sulmona is secure, but the death toll is climbing so rapidly and now with the rain the services are frantically trying to get cover for everyone. A large convoy arranged by the Red Cross and the Protezione Civile left Milano this afternoon laden with food and tents.

Please, does anyone have a link to where people fromoverseas can make donations to earthquake funds? I have many Italo/American friends who would like to donate.

There is information here about donations which can be made through the Red Cross. Hope this helps.
[url=http://www.cri.it/index.html]Appello Croce Rossa Italiana[/url]

Will be thinking of all you people in the area facing tonight and the challenges of the next days and longer. Keep safe.

[quote=barn_elms;115540]Sure, this 'Act of God' raises all sorts of questions and thoughts. Fortunately the actions of the men and women of the health and emergency services are helping to make things more bearable for the survivors. I don't know whether our hospital has been asked to help with the casualties, [B]but an important question worth asking is if any ex-pat has tried to give blood and been declined because of their british origins and the way 'we' handled the BSE crisis [/B](which left doubts in europe as to whether large numbers of brits might be carrying the infective agent). If anyone is able to give an update on this it would be appreciated.[/quote]

I find this offensive - I really do - and I don't care if you have a pop at me Barny - 'cus under these terrible circumstances I think you are quite mad to even be thinking along these lines at a time like this.

All blood is screened - there is no exception - and it's especially effective against the pompous pseudo blue blood variety known as "Type A(sino)".

1.18
Another. Lasted 2-3 seconds, but powerful.
Pilch

Felt it too here in Amandola - seemed to last about 15 secs - just hoping there is no more damage or injury to any of the workers trying to reach those who may still be trapped - not much sleep tonight but we must be greatful we have a bed to sleep in.