Quake in Central Italy, villages razed, 278 dead

[Bhikkustan]

Brisk and stone is the worst thing possible in an earthquake.

If it fails. It's a sharp threshold: extremely rigid (so safer in minor shocks), but will fail completely in a major shock.

Also, a six should not be that bad, they are a common occurrence here in NZ.

That's because the population density of NZ (17 people/km²) allows for low building, and it has had a short history of building - which means most buildings are young. Welcome to a land with 201 people/km² average, with stone and brick building since some 2500 years at least, and whose territory is 76.8% steep hills and mountains. High density here is a necessity since the age of the Roman Republic.

Rome eh, maybe they forgot their sacrifices.

[Risottia]

If it fails. It's a sharp threshold: extremely rigid (so safer in minor shocks), but will fail completely in a major shock.


That's because the population density of NZ (17 people/km²) allows for low building, and it has had a short history of building - which means most buildings are young. Welcome to a land with 201 people/km² average, with stone and brick building since some 2500 years at least, and whose territory is 76.8% steep hills and mountains. High density here is a necessity since the age of the Roman Republic.

Rome eh, maybe they forgot their sacrifices.

We got altars. You got sheep. Profit!

[Sjealand]

This is such a tragedy... i hope the authorities can rescue as many people as possible. Are there any italians on here who could help me? I have a friend in Urbino, would she be in the danger zone?

[Innocent Gentleman]

That's just horrible!

[Costa Fierro]

I have a friend in Urbino, would she be in the danger zone?

Nope.

[Sjealand]

I have a friend in Urbino, would she be in the danger zone?

Nope.

Thank you so much!

[Bulgar Rouge]

What makes me wonder is how come there is such damage from a quake that isn't really that strong ? Is construction in Italy that bad ?

[Gigaverse]

What makes me wonder is how come there is such damage from a quake that isn't really that strong ? Is construction in Italy that bad ?

Bet they refused to take down millennia-old building for the sake of tradition.

[Bulgar Rouge]

What makes me wonder is how come there is such damage from a quake that isn't really that strong ? Is construction in Italy that bad ?

Bet they refused to take down millennia-old building for the sake of tradition.

Certainly most of the houses aren't ancient.

[Costa Fierro]

What makes me wonder is how come there is such damage from a quake that isn't really that strong ? Is construction in Italy that bad ?

Have you been in a 6.2? It's not by any means "not that strong", especially if it's shallow. Which this was. Also, the vast majority of the buildings in Italy are as old as, if not older, than the United States is as a country. They aren't built to withstand any kind of strong tremor. Of course, Italy could reinforce but the sheer number of old unreinforced buildings like this is simply too much.

[Bulgar Rouge]

What makes me wonder is how come there is such damage from a quake that isn't really that strong ? Is construction in Italy that bad ?

Have you been in a 6.2? It's not by any means "not that strong", especially if it's shallow. Which this was. Also, the vast majority of the buildings in Italy are as old as, if not older, than the United States is as a country. They aren't built to withstand any kind of strong tremor. Of course, Italy could reinforce but the sheer number of old unreinforced buildings like this is simply too much.

Yep, been at a 6.0. There was not even light damage where I was. But I can see your point about old buildings.

[Costa Fierro]

Yep, been at a 6.0. There was not even light damage where I was. But I can see your point about old buildings.

The depth of the quake is also a factor in the damage. This was less than ten kilometres deep which is very close to the surface. So the shaking would have been made much more intense by the depth alone, let alone the size.

[Risottia]

This is such a tragedy... i hope the authorities can rescue as many people as possible. Are there any italians on here who could help me? I have a friend in Urbino, would she be in the danger zone?

No, RAI (Italian State broadcaster) doesn't report any damages in Urbino. They have felt if for sure there, but no worries.

edit: there are some cracks in the Urbino Cathedral, but no one has been injured.

[Risottia]

Bet they refused to take down millennia-old building for the sake of tradition.

Certainly most of the houses aren't ancient.

200-300 years old is quite common there, but also 500-600 years old isn't rare.

edit: currently the official death toll is at 38 confirmed dead, but unofficial sources report in the range of 60.

[Liriena]

Saw pictures of the devastation. Horrible. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

It's also quite sad to see such beautiful historic villages destroyed so easily.

[Greater Orensta]

Saw pictures of the devastation. Horrible. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

It's also quite sad to see such beautiful historic villages destroyed so easily.

I can't put anything into words, so this^
Pregate per l'Italia, you can donate and give blood as well

[Cymrea]

It's always sad when nature shakes up lives and lovely buildings in addition to the earth. Italy is hale and hearty and I'm certain folks will be back to normal soon.

Incidentally, there was also a big quake in Myanmar. Those poor folks are far less equipped to handle natural disaster.

[Greater Orensta]

It's always sad when nature shakes up lives and lovely buildings in addition to the earth. Italy is hale and hearty and I'm certain folks will be back to normal soon.

Incidentally, there was also a big quake in Myanmar. Those poor folks are far less equipped to handle natural disaster.

I saw that as well, 6.8 magnitude if I remember correctly

[Greater Orensta]

Death toll is now up to 70

[Zethes X Spec Ops Team I]

It's always sad when nature shakes up lives and lovely buildings in addition to the earth. Italy is hale and hearty and I'm certain folks will be back to normal soon.

Incidentally, there was also a big quake in Myanmar. Those poor folks are far less equipped to handle natural disaster.

A deadly quake I assure you, I live in Bangladesh and the quake was a big one. Felt it from Dhaka.

[Greater Orensta]

It's always sad when nature shakes up lives and lovely buildings in addition to the earth. Italy is hale and hearty and I'm certain folks will be back to normal soon.

Incidentally, there was also a big quake in Myanmar. Those poor folks are far less equipped to handle natural disaster.

A deadly quake I assure you, I live in Bangladesh and the quake was a big one. Felt it from Dhaka.

Both caused the loss of life and architecture, 7 temples in Myanmar I think

[Community Values]

This tragedy is a symptom of capitalism's failure - Most of the victims are rural poor and the poor who lived in precarious housing.

The government of Italy and geologists across the world knew in advance that a disaster of this scale was waiting to happen, given the understanding about the movement of seismic plates in the area. And yet the imperialist Italian government and the EU made no effort whatsoever to prepare and take precautions to prevent large-scale death and disaster in the event of a major earthquake. The scale of the disaster is therefore man-made, in the sense that it could have been dramatically lessened if adequate preventive measures were put in place. They rather spend billions on bombing Libya and Syria rather than build houses that will withstrand seismic activity.

Those must be some spicy sauces you got. Can i try some?

[Xe Non]

Bello vedere dei connazionali riuniti in un thread su NS! Peccato che le circostanze siano così tragiche...

TRANSLATION It's good to see many fellow italians in the same thread on NS! It is sad though that the circumstances are so tragic...

I live in Norther Italy (Savona, to be precise). Nobody here felt the earthquake, but it was quite shocking to hear the news at work, in the morning. It all happened during the night, that was very unfortunate too.. then again, sadly this reminds us that central and southern Italy are very sysmic regions and tragedies are bound to happen. I pray for all the victims and their relatives.
Also, if anyone from the affected regions reads this, I'm sorry for anything that happened to you and I hope your loved ones are safe and sound now.

[Kryozerkia]

This tragedy is a symptom of capitalism's failure - Most of the victims are rural poor and the poor who lived in precarious housing.

The government of Italy and geologists across the world knew in advance that a disaster of this scale was waiting to happen, given the understanding about the movement of seismic plates in the area. And yet the imperialist Italian government and the EU made no effort whatsoever to prepare and take precautions to prevent large-scale death and disaster in the event of a major earthquake. The scale of the disaster is therefore man-made, in the sense that it could have been dramatically lessened if adequate preventive measures were put in place. They rather spend billions on bombing Libya and Syria rather than build houses that will withstrand seismic activity.

Let's not turn this into a political debate. Please stay on topic.

[Geilinor]

This tragedy is a symptom of capitalism's failure - Most of the victims are rural poor and the poor who lived in precarious housing.

The government of Italy and geologists across the world knew in advance that a disaster of this scale was waiting to happen, given the understanding about the movement of seismic plates in the area. And yet the imperialist Italian government and the EU made no effort whatsoever to prepare and take precautions to prevent large-scale death and disaster in the event of a major earthquake. The scale of the disaster is therefore man-made, in the sense that it could have been dramatically lessened if adequate preventive measures were put in place. They rather spend billions on bombing Libya and Syria rather than build houses that will withstrand seismic activity.

I don't know about the building standards in that part of Italy, but are you even serious? "Imperialist"? This happened in their own country.