Italy earthquakes: Tsunami alert issued after 12 tremors strike off Mediterranean coast

A tsunami alert has been issued in Italy after a series of tremors was detected off the Mediterranean coast.

As many as 12 quakes were recorded with magnitudes of up to 5.0 near Sicily on Friday lunchtime, prompting precautionary evacuations of schools in Palermo and Messina.

An orange tsunami alert was issued for residents to vigilant and exercise caution around coastal areas as students left classes and public offices were abandoned, according to local media.

A courthouse was evacuated as far away as Trapani, on the west coast, while students and municipal workers vacated buildings in Lipari, an island between Sicily and mainland Italy.

The epicentre was less than 60 miles from Palermo, on the northern coastline, which has a population of 648,260 as the island’s capital.

Locals reported feeling tremors in Palermo, Patti, Licata, Capo dʿOrlando and Campofelice di Roccella. Licata is 180km from the epicentre.

The other 11 tremors all registered above 3.0-magnitude, officials said.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a 5.7 magnitude quake at a depth of 10km north of the island, occurring at 10:19am local time.

At the time of writing, there were no reports of injuries or damage to property.

Palermo mayor Roberto Lagalla said the authorities were closely monitoring an evolving situation.

“Currently, no reports of damage to people or property have been received, but we believe it is our duty to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our citizens,” he said in a statement.

“The possible evacuation of some public buildings is purely precautionary, dictated by the need to act promptly and prudently.”

He urged residents and people near the coast stay away from the sea and follow the instructions of the relevant authorities.

Did you feel the earthquake? Contact james.reynolds@independent.co.uk

The Sicilian city of Marsala and neighbouring towns were struck by a tornado earlier this month in what experts said was an almost unprecedented event for the Mediterranean island.

Vehicles were overturned and two people were seriously injured on October 9 as the whirlwind swept through, destroying a house and damaging a school and other buildings.

“It was almost like an American tornado, nothing this violent has been seen in living memory,” the head of Sicily's civil protection agency Salvatore Cocina told Reuters.

Early in September the agency issued a warning saying the sweltering summer had led to a buildup of heat that could trigger extreme weather events in autumn.