A Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake at a depth of 10 km occurred in Italy, roughly 42 km west of San Marino, slightly after 6.30 am local time (slightly after 4.30 am GMT) on Thursday 11 July 2013, according to the United States Geological Survey. There are no reports of any damage or casualties, though the quake was felt as far away as Bologna.
The approximate location of the 11 July quake. Google Maps.
Italy is in an unusual tectonic setting, with the west of the country lying on the Eurasian Plate, but the east of the country lying on the Adriatic Plate, a microplate which broke away from North Africa some time in the past and which is now wedged into the southern margin of Europe, underlying eastern Italy, the Adriatic Sea and the west of the Balkan Peninsula. This, combined with the northward movement of the African Plate into Italy from the south, leads to uplift in the Apennine Mountains that run the length of the country, and makes Italy extremely prone to Earthquakes.
See also Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake in northwest Italy, Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake in Montenegro, Earthquake off the coast of Tunisia, Eruptions on Stromboli, Magnitude 5.3 quake in southern Italy kills at least one person and Six Italian scientists gaoled for failure to predict Earthquake.
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