1 Citation
Following the significant seismic sequence that affected the Po Valley starting from the night of May 20, 2012, the Seismic Emergency Response of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) was activated.
The main event occurred at 02:03 UTC on May 20, with the epicenter approximately 30 km west of Ferrara and a local magnitude ML 5.9 (Mw 5.8). In the minutes and the hour following the main shock, a total of 11 events with a magnitude greater than 4.0 were recorded. Throughout the day, a total of 16 earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.0 to 5.0 were registered, with epicenters located between the municipalities of Mirandola, San Felice sul Panaro, and Finale Emilia.
Less than ten days later, on May 29 at 07:00 UTC, a second event occurred with a local magnitude ML of 5.8 (Mw 5.6) and an epicenter approximately 20 km west of the initial main shock, still within the Modena region between the municipalities of Medolla and Cavezzo.
The seismic sequence exhibited various phases of activity. The initial phase featured a high number of earthquakes per day (with peak values of over 300 events on May 20 and 29), concluding by the end of June 2012. A second phase with reduced activity occurred from July to October 2012, followed by a third phase of gradually decreasing activity with only a few events per month. Consequently, the geometry of the temporary network was progressively adjusted.