A magnitude 4.3 tremor struck Tuscany this morning, sending residents into the streets and briefly disrupting rail services across the Pisa area. Despite concern and hundreds of emergency calls, authorities have confirmed there are no reports of injuries or significant damage.
The earthquake struck at 10.15 am, with its epicentre near San Piero a Grado, just outside Pisa, at a shallow depth of approximately seven kilometres, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The relatively shallow depth contributed to the tremor being felt across a wide area of northern Tuscany.
Residents reported the shaking from Pisa, Livorno, Lucca and the Versilia coast as well as parts of Massa-Carrara, causing moments of alarm for locals and the many tourists visiting the Tuscan coastline during the height of the summer season.
Emergency services received numerous calls as people sought information or reported the tremor. In central Pisa, several public buildings were temporarily evacuated as a precaution, with employees and visitors gathering outside while safety checks were carried out. Proceedings at the Pisa courthouse were briefly suspended before resuming later in the morning. Pisa city hall was also evacuated temporarily, as was the Palazzo Blu exhibition space. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, along with the museums and monuments in piazza dei Miracoli, remained unaffected by the earthquake.
Rail traffic through Pisa was temporarily suspended while technicians inspected railway infrastructure. Trenitalia warned that high-speed, Intercity and regional services could experience delays, with some regional trains subject to cancellations or route changes as precautionary inspections continued.
By midday, Tuscany regional president Eugenio Giani offered an initial assessment following a meeting of the regional emergency task force. “We have reviewed the situation with the regional crisis unit following the earth tremor centred in the San Rossore Park area at a depth of seven kilometres. At present, there are no reports of damage to people, homes or healthcare facilities. Together with prefectures, municipalities, the fire brigade, regional authorities and essential service providers, we are continuing to monitor the situation. Inspections of public buildings, schools and infrastructure remain underway, and the regional Civil Protection system is fully operational.”
Tuesday’s earthquake follows a smaller magnitude 2.8 tremor recorded overnight between July 30 and 31, also in the Pisa area. That earthquake, centred near San Giuliano Terme at a depth of 10 kilometres, was felt locally but caused no injuries or material damage.
