Two unusual earthquakes have occurred today in the region of
Italy/Sicily. Several light earthquakes have also been reported in
Greece in the past 24 hours. Following are some details on the
Italy/Sicily quakes from today's and tomorrow's Earthquake Summary
reports posted here for your interest and information.

O: 26Nov2001 00:56:56 43.7N 12.2E ML=4.7 SED CENTRAL ITALY
O: 26Nov2001 00:57:05 43.6N 11.3E ML=4.5 LDG CENTRAL ITALY
O: 26NOV2001 00:57:05 43.6N 11.3E M =4.5 LDGM CENTRAL ITALY
O: 26NOV2001 00:57:01 43.6N 12.5E Ml=4.7 LED CENTRAL ITALY
Note: Central Italy is relatively quiet seismically. This is only
the fifth earthquake within 50 km of this epicenter of Mb>=4.5
since 1965. The others occurred on Aug 19, 1970 (Mb 5.1); Jan 5, 1982
(Mb 4.8); May 2, 1987 (Mb 4.9) the latest occurred more than 10 years
ago on Jan. 14, 1991 (Mb 4.9). A second rare earthquake had occurred
earlier in the day in the Sicily region of Italy.
This event may be an FFA from the Kunlun Mts. great quake. It
lies at 59 degrees from that event in a region where according to the
forecast FFA were expected:

"Secondary location where event tend to occur but are not
as large or as likely . MB>=4.8 considered likely in next
10 days.

Central Italy"

and

"59-61 degrees: .... No. Italy"

The earthquake also falls in an area which was nearly
sub-solar at the time of the X1.1 flare on 25 November. The region
within 20 degrees longitude of 34E was considered particularly
vulnerable to triggering effects as noted in yesterday's report:

"This flare occurred while Alaska was anti-solar (146W) and Turkey
was sub-solar (34E) ...... However, the strongest activity
within 20 degrees longitude of the sub- and anti-solar points occurred
about 10 hours later in the regin of Sicily (14E) and was Mb 5.0+.
... the expected anti-solar triggering area (20 degrees longitude about
sub- and anti-solar points for the next day)."

O: 25NOV2001 19:34:23 38.5N 13.9E Ms=4.1 GSSC SICILY, ITALY
O: 25NOV2001 19:34:19 37.9N 14.0E Mb=5.0 NEIR SICILY, ITALY
Note: This earthquake lies within the seismic watch region after
the X1.1 flare today. It also occurred 61 degrees from the great
Kunlun Mts. earthquake in an area where FFA were expected in the
far-field forecast:

"59-61 degrees: ... Sicily"

and

"Secondary location where event tend to occur but are not
as large or as likely . MB>=4.8 considered likely in next
10 days.

Central Italy"

The most unusual event of the day occurred as a Mb 5.0 (ABCAA) earthquake
in the area of Sicily. This is a rare event as records indicate
that only two earthquakes of Mb>=5 have been reported within 50 km
of this epicenter in the past. Those occurred on Oct. 31, 1967 (Mb 5.4)
and Dec. 23, 1959 (Mb 5.5). The event falls within the 20 degrees from
sub-solar point (33E) after an X1.1 flare occurred this afternoon and
may have been affected by that flare as well as by the strong geomagnetic
storm yesterday. It is also likely a FFA from the Kunlun Mts. earthquake
as it lies at 61 degrees from that event, a distance where FFA are
expected. The far-field forecast expires on November 26.

For additional details see the CSEM earthquake listings at:

http://www.emsc-csem.org/cgi-bin/ALERT_all_messages.sh?1

• CSEM Earthquake listings