Conseza– A night of fear, but fortunately without serious consequences. At 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, a strong earthquake measuring 6.2 shook much of southern Italy. The epicenter was located offshore, off the Calabrian coast of Amantea (in the province of Cosenza), at a considerable depth of approximately 250 kilometers.
The very depth of the hypocenter caused the seismic wave to spread across a vast area, being distinctly felt in five regions: Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, and Sicily. In several places, residents, frightened by the tremors, took to the streets, overwhelming emergency call centers to seek information.
Switchboards raided but no damage
Despite the earthquake's strong intensity, initial findings are reassuring. The head of the Calabrian Civil Protection Department, Domenico Costarella, confirmed that the operations room immediately initiated contact with the mayors of the municipalities closest to the epicenter—including Cetraro, Lamezia Terme, and Amantea itself—without receiving any reports of collapses or injuries.
Provincial fire departments have also received a surge in calls from frightened residents, but so far no emergency interventions have been necessary. The situation remains under constant and rigorous monitoring.
Testimony from Cosenza: "A very strong shock."
The greatest shock was felt in the Cosenza area. Cosenza's mayor, Franz Caruso, sought to reassure residents in the hours immediately following the event:
"We have not yet received any reports of damage to people or property. The earthquake was very strong and was clearly felt in Cosenza and throughout Calabria, but fortunately the situation is under control."
Rescue operations immediately activated
The institutional response was immediate. At 1:00 AM, less than an hour after the earthquake, the Civil Protection Department's Crisis Unit, headed by Department Head Fabio Ciciliano, convened an emergency meeting.
The operational meeting, held via video link, included representatives from all the regions of Southern Italy, the National Fire Brigade, and experts from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The meeting provided a definitive picture of the aftermath of the earthquake: no areas reported critical issues. The Italian Situation Room will continue to monitor and remain in constant contact with local authorities to monitor any possible developments.
Deepening
BREAKING NEWS: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the coast of Calabria, causing fear in five regions but fortunately without serious damage.
Such a strong earthquake reminds us of how unprepared we still are, with unresolved emergencies and backed-up rescue efforts.
It's time to stop chasing panic and start getting serious: knowing the
Prevention rules and what to do during an earthquake can save lives.
I felt the shock last night, it was very strong but luckily it seems that no serious damage occurred. People ran out into the street confused. Their phones were jammed and the emergency services tried to respond but they weren't always successful. Let's hope everything remains under control.