Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Natural disasters in Italy – statistics & facts
Italy has the highest WorldRiskIndex 2023 in the European Union. This risk assessment combines the exposure and the vulnerability of society to disasters resulting from extreme natural events and climate change.
The high density of human activities in Italy and the alteration of the natural environment increase the risk index of the Italian population for natural disasters. Additionally, Italy’s specific geography makes it more prone to hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and flooding than other EU countries.
The most destructive earthquakes in Italian history reached a magnitude of 7.5 in Sicily in the 17th and 20th centuries, while the strongest earthquakes in the 21st century occurred in L’Aquila (Abruzzo) in 2009 and Amatrice (Lazio) and Norcia (Umbria) in 2016, with a magnitude between six and 6.5. Out of the 16,300 seismic hazards that happened in the country in 2023, only two earthquakes surpassed a magnitude of five.
Seaquakes (earthquakes with submarine epicenters) can cause tsunamis on Italy's coasts, although these are of moderate dimensions in the Mediterranean Sea. The south of the country accounts for the highest risk, and the regions of Calabria and Sicily experienced Italy's major tsunamis in 1783 and 1908, respectively.
Europe's volcanoes are concentrated in Italy and Iceland. Etna and Stromboli (Sicily) are active and erupt frequently, despite posing a limited hazard. By comparison, Vesuvio and Campi Flegrei (Campania) pose a higher risk but are considered dormant.
Floods and wildfires have been the main weather-related causes of human displacement in Italy in the past decades. The country had the highest number of fatalities associated with flooding in Europe in 2022. In 2023, this figure increased further and the number of victims of flooding and landslides in the country surpassed 40,000. Italy also had one of the largest areas burned by wildfires among the Mediterranean countries between 2006 and 2022.
Marked effects of climate change are extreme temperatures, sea-level rise, and water scarcity. In May 2023, Italy declared a drought emergency, which impacted hydropower generation, and industrial and agricultural water supply.
Seismic hazards in Italy
Italy is located on the line between the Eurasian and the African tectonic plates. For this reason, the country is subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity.The most destructive earthquakes in Italian history reached a magnitude of 7.5 in Sicily in the 17th and 20th centuries, while the strongest earthquakes in the 21st century occurred in L’Aquila (Abruzzo) in 2009 and Amatrice (Lazio) and Norcia (Umbria) in 2016, with a magnitude between six and 6.5. Out of the 16,300 seismic hazards that happened in the country in 2023, only two earthquakes surpassed a magnitude of five.
Seaquakes (earthquakes with submarine epicenters) can cause tsunamis on Italy's coasts, although these are of moderate dimensions in the Mediterranean Sea. The south of the country accounts for the highest risk, and the regions of Calabria and Sicily experienced Italy's major tsunamis in 1783 and 1908, respectively.
Europe's volcanoes are concentrated in Italy and Iceland. Etna and Stromboli (Sicily) are active and erupt frequently, despite posing a limited hazard. By comparison, Vesuvio and Campi Flegrei (Campania) pose a higher risk but are considered dormant.
Climate change related events in Italy
Drought, floods, landslides, avalanches, and extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent and intense in Italy. According to the scientific community, it can be concluded with medium to high confidence that this is related to the anthropogenic amplification of climate change and to the stress caused by human activities on the territory, through deforestation, soil sealing, and alteration of water courses.Floods and wildfires have been the main weather-related causes of human displacement in Italy in the past decades. The country had the highest number of fatalities associated with flooding in Europe in 2022. In 2023, this figure increased further and the number of victims of flooding and landslides in the country surpassed 40,000. Italy also had one of the largest areas burned by wildfires among the Mediterranean countries between 2006 and 2022.
Marked effects of climate change are extreme temperatures, sea-level rise, and water scarcity. In May 2023, Italy declared a drought emergency, which impacted hydropower generation, and industrial and agricultural water supply.
