Central Italy Earthquake Deemed Worst in 36 Years

If you haven't heard from loved ones in the earthquake zone, here are the instructions from the Embassy.

U. S. Embassy Rome, Italy
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Earthquake in Italy
October 30, 2016



Italian authorities and the U.S. Geological Survey report a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in central Italy striking in the provinces of Macerata and Perugia at 07:41am, with the epicenter near the localities of Castelsantangelo, Norcia and Preci. Italian Civil Protection officials are determining the extent of damages and injuries (http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/jcms/it/home.wp). Local authorities in Rome report that the metro system in Rome has been temporarily closed to conduct safety checks. Aftershocks have already been felt throughout the region, and there is the potential for further aftershocks. We encourage U.S. citizens in Italy to notify friends and family of their wellbeing and to update their status on social media. Persons with information or questions about U.S. citizens known to be in affected areas who require assistance, please call the U.S. Embassy in Italy at +39 06-4674-1 or email the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen’s Services Unit at USCitizensRome@state.gov.

For further information:

• See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Country Specific Information for Italy.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Contact the U.S. Embassy in Italy, located at Via Veneto 121, at +39 06-4674-1, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +39 06-4674-1.
• Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.