Notes

Abstract

THE earthquake felt on September 7 in the north of Tuscany proves to have been much more serious than the early accounts indicated. Many towns and villages are completely destroyed. The epicentre seems to have been near Fivizzano, a small town, now a heap of ruins, on the slope of the Apennines, and about twelve miles north of Carrara. The area within which buildings were damaged is evidently extensive, as it includes both Viareggio and Pistoia, the latter town being about forty-five miles south-east of Fivizzano. The number of deaths so far reported is 327, but the real number is probably much higher. The earthquake appears to be the most violent known in this part of Italy, which is fortunate in possessing a meagre seismic history. On April 11, 1837, an earthquake, with its centre about five miles south-east of Fivizzano, caused some damage in that town. On September 10, 1878, a strong shock, with its centre close to Fivizzano, again injured a few houses there, indeed, the recent wholesale destruction of villages is evidence of their long immunity from violent earthquakes, for the buildings were not of that resisting type the construction of which is now enforced in the rebuilt towns of Italy.