On 20 May 2012, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the region of Emilia-Romagna. The seismic event consisted of a series of shocks in the seismic district of the Po Plain of Emilia, mainly in the provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Mantua, Reggio Emilia, Bologna and Rovigo.
The Emilia earthquake of 20 May 2012 The 2012 Emilia earthquake was a seismic event consisting of a series of shocks in the Emilia region, but was also felt in a very large area, including all of Northern-Central Italy and part of Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, south-eastern France and southern Germany. Significant precursor phenomena occurred in January, but the first strongest earthquake, magnitude 5.8, was recorded on 20 May 2012 at 4:03 a.m. Italian time, with epicentre in the municipal territory of Finale Emilia (MO).
How long did the 2012 earthquake last? Following the tremors of 20 May 2012, there were others, including one on 29 May 2012 at 9 a.m. The new shock, of magnitude 5.8, was felt throughout Northern Italy, creating panic and unease in many cities, such as Ferrara, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Mantua and Rovigo with epicentre in the area between Mirandola, Medolla and San Felice sul Panaro. Three other significant earthquakes of magnitude between 4.9 and 5.5 followed at 9:00 a.m. More earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 occurred on 31 May 2012. A further earthquake swarm with tremors of variable magnitude (smaller on the Richter Scale) was unleashed on the affected area, culminating in a magnitude 5.1 tremor, felt throughout Northern Italy on 3 June 2012 at 9:20 p.m. Italian time with epicentre in Novi di Modena.
What damage was caused by the 2012 Emilia earthquake? The two main seismic events caused a total of 27 victims (22 in collapses, three due to heart attack or illness and two from injuries), mostly employees of destroyed companies. Every 4th June, the victims of the earthquake are remembered, as it is a day of national mourning.
The 2012 earthquake Emilia on the Mercalli Scale
The maximum intensity of the earthquakes, estimated as a cumulation of the effects of the sequence, was equal to VIII, according to the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98). The earthquakes of 20 and 29 May 2012 caused serious damage to rural and industrial buildings, waterworks, as well as to buildings, historic monuments and civilian buildings made with stone or cobblestone, building materials used long ago. Most of the monuments and places of artistic interest included in an extensive area, between Mantua, Modena and Ferrara, up to some municipalities in the province of Bologna, were seriously damaged or partially collapsed. In some cases, recently built residential buildings were also damaged; this sort of damage is often related to episodes of sand liquefaction.
The total damage caused by the earthquake that was estimated in a report sent to the EU Commission amounted to €13,273,000,000.
Solidarity actions after the 2012 Emilia earthquake On 22 May 2012, the government announced the allocation of fifty million euros for the damage caused by the earthquake. By Decree-Law No. 74/2012, the Fund for the reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake of 20–29 May 2012 was established for a minimum amount of 9.26 billion, of which:
- 6 billion made available by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti for the granting of twenty-five-year facilitated loans to the inhabitants of the seismic crater who wanted to carry out repairs, restoration or reconstruction of residential and manufacturing buildings. The loans are backed by and paid by the government, according to Law 135/2012
- The sum of 2 billion was found between 2013 and 2014 by reducing expenditure items for the purchase of goods and services, for the operation of the public administration as provided for in Annexes 1 and 2 of Law 225/92. The fund was distributed by granting 95% of the sums to Emilia-Romagna region, 4.5% to Lombardy Region and 0.5% to Veneto region.
- The European Union Solidarity Fund granted 670 million;
- An increase in excise duties on fuels equal to 2 euro cents per litre generated 500 million euros;
- The reduction of public contributions for expenses incurred by political parties and movements – Law No. 96/12 added 91 million
From 29 May 2012, an SMS service allowed anyone to donate 2 euros, by sending a message to the number 45500, set up to raise funds to be allocated to the victims affected by the earthquake. With the solidarity SMS, it was possible to raise the sum of €15.1 million.
Reconstruction works of the 2012 Emilia earthquake Following major seismic events, the oldest buildings, built with construction methods far from the current earthquake-resistant standards, suffered the most serious damage. Earthquake tremors affected the entire structure of these buildings, causing superficial and structural damage, dangerous for the protection of cultural heritage but also for the safety of the community that found itself living too close to buildings that were no longer stable.
In Ferrara, as in other cities of Emilia, interventions on whole buildings were necessary to salvage the damaged parts and strengthen the parts that had withstood the shocks, making buildings safe and protecting them from other seismic events.
Remembering events such as the 2012 Emilia earthquake is a must to understand the importance of earthquake damage prevention and earthquake protection culture, as safe reconstructions and improvements, earthquake-resistant technologies and systems are inevitable to protect the buildings, homes and lives of those who live in them and prevent tragedies like this from happening again.
