Four More Large Earthquakes In Italy

I watched some of the news reports about the earthquakes on Italian news this morning. In addition to the earthquakes, some areas are also getting significant snowfalls, which is hampering relief efforts to some extent.

Here's a link to earthquakes in California.
http://earthquaketrack.com/v/norcal/recent

A warning to visitors from Italy!

.??? Are you trying to make light of the quakes in Italy? Or a joke?

How terrible... I can only imagine how devastating it must be for all the people involved in this tragic event.

So sad. The people of Amatrice have already suffered so much. When we were in Italy in September we learned that Amatrice sits on three fault lines. It's amazing that the buildings have stood for so long.

jrmeier's post should be removed as it is offensive!

Neither. But risks exist regardless of where travel. I'm posting against generalizing risk of traveling in Italy vs generalizing risk of traveling in California; both with about the same geographic vast equal. I respect your point, and in all cases respect all those who may be seriously injured or those upon serious damage has occurred. But making statements like "there has (have???) been four more earthquakes in central Italy" should be put into context of the area and extent of the problem. My sarcasm is aimed at those who see crises broadly on foreign steps, but never seem to see the same in the limited world of their own.

What I don't understand is why you think the OP was warning against travel to Italy.

Unfortunately it's highly likely that these won't be the last earthquakes to hit that area, given the location on a fault line. It must be incredibly miserable to be living in tents in the middle of winter, so my thoughts and prayers are with the people affected.

Speaking as someone who has been through several earthquakes including a major one in a foreign country and live near the epicenter of one of the worst, I feel quiet safe living where I do and traveling to Italy or elsewhere. Its something that can happen and its not worth getting upset about or changing your plans. I have a bigger fear of flying, yet married a pilot, I love travel but lost a loved one in a major airline crash, knew someone who was on the American Airline flight on 9-11.

Lesson learned: Enjoy the life you have while you have it. Just finished the last bits of planning our trip to Italy this spring.

I often do check the Usgs site, when the chandeliers swing or the floor seems to roll a bit. I am often surprised at the numbers of small quakes all over the world on any day.

To ttmom12 ... Thanks for the calming response. You bridged the gap between my perception of the issue, as a traveler's perception, and other views, as a human / personal concern issue. Best regards to all.

The reason these are discussed is not to scare people away but to become aware of any damage to areas one might be planning to visit or to stay away from areas where rescue operations may be taking place.

Sometimes quakes disrupt train lines or roads. It's best to know this before arriving in an area so alternate plans can be made.

According to the news reports I saw this morning, it wasn't only the earthquake that was disrupting road travel. Several roads were closed due to heavy snow and some due to "storms". Winter is not a good time to be travelling in some parts of Italy. The Rome Metro was also evacuated and shut down as a result of the earthquake.

There's more tragic news this morning. One of the earthquakes has apparently triggered an avalanche in a ski resort in the area between Pescara and Rome. The avalanche struck a luxury hotel, pushing it 30 metres off its foundation and there are still about 30 people missing, including the wife and two children of one of the cooks at the hotel. Initial reports suggest there was some delay in getting relief efforts started. The road to the resort appears to be completely blocked by a wall of snow a metre or more in height which has delayed getting vehicles into the area, but rescue workers have been delivered by Helicopter.

The OP alerted me ahead of any news I had access to, as has happened in the past with other tragedies. Once I saw the post, I went to BBC site and found more information. The RS forum is alert and caring about the world community, beyond just travel destinations. And, there have been times when posters on this forum give more tangible support - the response to the floods in Cinque Terra comes to mind. For the moment, my heart breaks for all those people caught in this tragedy.