CALABRIA, ITALY / EuroWire / — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck offshore from Italy’s Calabria coast early Tuesday, with the epicenter located in the Tyrrhenian Sea near the northwestern coast of the region. The National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology recorded the event at 00:12 local time on June 2, placing it about 20 kilometers from the coast near Amantea in Cosenza province and at a depth of about 250 kilometers.
The institute listed the quake as magnitude ML 6.2 and moment magnitude Mw 6.1, reflecting different measurement scales used by seismologists. The depth made the earthquake a deep seismic event rather than a shallow crustal quake, a distinction that influenced how the shaking was felt across southern Italy. The National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology said the event was recorded by Italy’s National Seismic Network.
Authorities carried out checks after the tremor was felt across Calabria and in several other southern and central regions. Civil Protection and fire service operations rooms had not reported casualties, major structural damage or emergency rescue requests in the immediate aftermath. The shaking was described as widely perceptible, including in parts of Sicily and other areas of southern Italy, but initial official checks did not identify significant effects at the surface.
Deep Offshore Event
The quake’s offshore location was in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, an area where deep earthquakes are documented in connection with the complex tectonic setting around Calabria. INGV has described this region as one where seismicity can occur at significant depths, linked to the subduction of Ionian lithosphere beneath the Calabrian arc. The June 2 earthquake was therefore notable for its magnitude, depth and broad felt area.
Although centered at sea, the earthquake was not classified as a surface level coastal impact event. Its hypocenter, the point within the Earth where the rupture originated, was far below the seabed, at about 250 kilometers. That depth helps explain why the tremor was felt over a wide area while early inspections did not show major localized damage near the coast. Civil Protection checks continued through local channels after the first reports.
Shaking Felt Across South
The strongest reported shaking was concentrated in Calabria and nearby southern regions, while lighter shaking was felt at greater distances. INGV’s instrumental assessments indicated effects across a broad portion of southern Italy, consistent with deep seismic waves traveling over long distances. Residents in coastal towns near Cosenza and in parts of Sicily reported feeling the movement during the night, prompting attention from local authorities and emergency monitoring centers.
Italy is one of Europe’s most seismically active countries, with Calabria among the regions exposed to significant earthquake risk. The southern Apennines, Sicily, Calabria and the surrounding seas have a long record of seismic activity associated with the interaction of African and Eurasian tectonic systems. The June 2 event added to the region’s documented pattern of deep earthquakes in the Tyrrhenian area, where depth can reduce surface damage while expanding the felt zone.
By Tuesday, the confirmed facts centered on the magnitude, depth, offshore epicenter and absence of major reported damage in the first official checks. The event occurred near Amantea, off Cosenza province, and was recorded shortly after midnight local time. Monitoring by seismic and civil protection authorities remained focused on verified reports from affected areas, with public information tied to official measurements and emergency response updates.