Earthquake in Central Italy--Is my sister OK?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205760)
Walnut Creek, California
August 24, 2016 11:54am CST
I read this morning that a 6.2 magnitude earthquake at about 3 AM in Central Italy, killing dozens and destroying buildings dating back to the Medieval era. I just read that the town hardest hit was Amatrice, Northeast of Rome.
Of course, the first thing I did was check my sister's Facebook page. She lives in an old stone Castello in the hills above Perugia, in Umbria. She reports that she's fine, and that she slept though the quake, though others near her felt it.
I have visited her there several times, and my sense was that Perugia could not be that far from Amatrice. Looking at two maps, it appears that Perugia is closer to due North of Rome, and close to due West of Amatrice. The distance looks like it could not be much more than 100 km.
If you have friends or family in Italy, I hope they are OK.
20 people like this
19 responses
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
24 Aug 16
Thank God your sister is fine, I have no family members or friends that reside on that part of Italy but I would be waiting tomorrow for more news since lots of Filipinos work in Italy and there might be somebody I know who do have.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
24 Aug 16
@TheHorse will wait tomorrow since there might just be somebody I know who knows somebody
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205760)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Aug 16
@louievill There are still people trapped under the rubble. I hope they can rescue them all.
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
24 Aug 16
That's scary. My sister was in one in San Jose and we were incommunicado for a few days. That was pretty horrible. But she and her family were okay.
2 people like this
@akalinus (40440)
• United States
24 Aug 16
My brother lived near Santa Cruz during the 1989 quake. I think it took 11 days to make phone contact with him as all lines were blocked. He had a small fire in his house that neighbors put out with a garden hose. There was other damage but the family made it through safe.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
24 Aug 16
thank goodness for social media and facebook! Glad she is ok.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Sep 16
@TheHorse it does helps us keep in touch, but it feels like it keeps people apart too
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205760)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Sep 16
@Jessicalynnt I was alive during the era when people would write each other letters or call each other on the phone. I miss it, and still read "old love letters" from time to time. It is cool meeting people from all around the world, though.
1 person likes this
@ModernDayWriter (3318)
• New Delhi, India
24 Aug 16
Thank God she is safe. Yesterday earthquake hit northern part of India and today it hits on eastern part of India
1 person likes this
@ModernDayWriter (3318)
• New Delhi, India
26 Aug 16
@TheHorse no injuries but I heard about the 267 lives lost in Italy earthquake so sad 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Aug 16
Thank goodness your sister is alright. I heard about this on the news.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Aug 16
@TheHorse .....Me too. So sad. If it isn't terrorism destroying old relics it's natural disasters.
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 Aug 16
so glad that'cha were able to get 'hold 'f yer sis 'n that she's alright, hon. don't reckon i knew that italy 'twas prone to earthquakes??
my heart 'tis saddened by all those that lost their lives 
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Aug 16
I can't believe that she slept through it @TheHorse .
1 person likes this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
24 Aug 16
Glad you're sister is okay. Terrible situation for everyone there.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215428)
• Chile
24 Aug 16
I checked for the earthquake and the pictures are terrifying. In countries where they don´t have so many quakes, the old buildings are still there and an earthquake brings them down.
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Aug 16
I am glad your sister is OK. I never knew Italy could have earthquakes!
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
24 Aug 16
Italy is prone to earthquakes and there have been many in the 40 years that I live here.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Aug 16
@mysdianait Oh wow! I just have never knew that! I hope you're safe there! I live in California and earthquakes are common too!
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
25 Aug 16
This is really sad to hear the news. My friend is residing there. Soon I picked up the phone and talked to her. She came out along with the entire family. They are all safe now. They are now helping others. I felt happy about her and sad about the others.
