By Joseph M. Calisi © 2021 All Rights Reserved
Bergamo, Italy, December 18, 2021
A 4.4 magnitude earthquake at 11:34 a.m. that was followed by a 2.2 aftershock struck Bergamo at 11:57 a.m. in the Lombardy region of Italy according to the Italian Geophysics and Volcanology Institute in Rome. The area, which includes the city of Milan, suffered no structural damage but caused the closure of three main Trenitalia rail lines entering Bergamo.
The earthquake was considered ‘moderate’, with no damage or injuries.
The epicenter of the quake was in Bonate Sotto, a town on the island of Osio Sotto, which has 6 thousand inhabitants, near Bergamo. The depth was established at 26 kilometers, just over 16 miles. High school students of the island of Isis Zenale and Butinone were evacuated.
Rail service was suspended from 11.45 am on in order to perform roadbed inspections on the high speed and conventional rail lines Milano Lambrate – Brescia, line Milano – Molteno / Lecco / Bergamo, line Bergamo – Treviglio / Rovato, rail traffic was suspended for inspections. Trenitalia said in a release: “The intervention of RFI technicians is underway for the necessary checks on the line, updates will follow. Fortunately, there are no damages or injured people, but we are still carrying out all the necessary verifications.”