A magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook southern Italy shortly after midnight on June 2, with tremors felt across Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia, Sicily, Naples, and the Vesuvius area. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology recorded the epicenter offshore near Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast, at a depth of about 250 kilometers (155 miles).
Despite the strength of the quake, no damage was initially reported. Experts said its unusual depth helped reduce the intensity felt at ground level, allowing much of the energy to dissipate before reaching the surface.
The quake was linked to deep seismic activity beneath the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, an area known for powerful underground movement. While this event appears to have caused limited impact, history shows that seismic events can reshape cities in seconds.
Click on to explore some of the most devastating earthquakes ever recorded.