What happened
A series of earthquakes has triggered a tsunami alert in Italy, with at least 12 tremors recorded off the southern tip of the country. The quakes, which had magnitudes of up to 5.0, were detected near Sicily, prompting authorities to issue an orange-level alert.
Schools in Palermo and Messina have been evacuated as a precaution, and the head of the Sicilian Civil Protection has ordered an immediate state of alert for the affected areas. Locals reported feeling tremors in several towns, including Palermo, Patti, and Licata.
The epicentre of the quakes was located less than 60 miles from Palermo, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. Authorities have urged locals to stay away from the sea and follow instructions from relevant authorities. So far, there have been no reports of damage.
