1703 Apennine earthquakes
 14 January
16 January
2 February
|
|
| Date | 14 January 1703 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 6.7–6.2–6.7 ML |
| Epicenter |
42°42′N 13°04′E / 42.7°N 13.07°E (first event) |
| Areas affected | Italy |
| Casualties | 10,000 deaths |
The 1703 Apennine earthquakes were a sequence of three earthquakes of magnitude ≥6 that occurred in the central Apennines of Italy, over a period of 19 days. The epicenters were near Norcia (14 January), Montereale (16 January) and L'Aquila (2 February), showing a southwards progression over about 36 km. These events involved all of the known active faults between Norcia and L'Aquila. A total of about 10,000 people are estimated to have died as a result of these earthquakes, although because of the overlap in areas affected by the three events, casualty numbers remain highly uncertain.
The central part of the Apennines has been characterised by extensional tectonics since the Pliocene epoch (i.e. about the last 5 million years), with most of the active faults being normal in type and NW-SE trending. The extension is due to the back-arc basin in the Tyrrhenian Sea opening faster than the African Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate.
The earthquake occurred at 18:00 UTC on 14 January with an estimated magnitude of 6.7. It was caused by movement on an en echelon set of three normal faults, known as the Norcia Fault System.
There was extensive damage in the area around Norcia, with Spoleto and Rieti also affected. Modern estimates give a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). Ground rupture was observed at several locations and these have been confirmed by modern investigations.
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