Yesterday at about 4.00pm there was a little earthquake in Bagni di Lucca. The epicentre was not far away, near Castelnuovo in the Garfagnana.
This was my first experience with an earthquake and it felt as though a large truck had hit the house. There was a loud noise and the floor shook for a couple of seconds.
I went outside to see if I could see anything, to find others out in the square as well. There was no truck and no damage.
I was genuinely frightened…and I don’t scare easily. I can’t imagine how terrible a serious earthquake would be.
There are no reports of damage today and life goes on as normal…I think I might get earthquake insurance.
Exciting Debra 🙂
By: Rosaly Palma Torvnes on January 26, 2013
at 7:07 am
This was my first earthquake…more scary than exciting.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2013
at 7:14 am
That call for a glass of wine
By: juditroncoso on January 26, 2013
at 7:23 am
…or two.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2013
at 8:22 am
Stay safe xx
By: francescamuir on January 26, 2013
at 7:42 am
Thank you! I hope that was the only one.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2013
at 8:23 am
I’m glad to hear that you and BdL are all safe. I experienced one in Japan and it certainly was scary. Here in Bargara & surrounds, we have had 3 mini tornados. Roofs off, power lines down, 2 people seriously hurt after a tree fell on their car. So not too mini by the look of the photos. Lots of rain causing localized flooding. I’m safe here in my Village.
By: Dianne L on January 26, 2013
at 7:59 am
Queensland is really copping it right now with the heavy rain and flooding, while there are fires in the south. Let’s hope it all settles down soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2013
at 8:24 am
I remember my first earthquake too! It was a small one so I wasn’t sure what it was at all! 😮
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on January 26, 2013
at 8:17 am
This one was small, but the house shook quite a lot. I don’t want to be around for a big one.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2013
at 8:25 am
We felt the ones in Emilia Romagna last spring. Even though we were 80kms from the epicentre the house shook for a very long time. Terrifying! When another big one came the week after (the aftershocks went on for ages) I was practicing and I swear my piano moved! Keep with the wine.
By: Catherine on January 26, 2013
at 9:02 am
There was another smaller one late at night but I slept through it. With a bit of luck there will be no big ones to come.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:02 pm
With us living in a geologically stable part of the world, earthquakes also scare me. Is there a fault line running through the area?
Hope it’s your one and only earthquake.
By: lisa@notesfromafrica on January 26, 2013
at 9:03 am
The whole of Italy is an earthquake zone. Ours is a low risk area, but you never know.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:03 pm
Glad your safe! 🙂 Very scary indeed.
By: Kathryn on January 26, 2013
at 9:15 am
I wouldn’t like to be around for a big one.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:04 pm
Hello Debra, I’m glad that all is ok!
By: roberto alborghetti on January 26, 2013
at 11:35 am
All is well here, thank you Roberto for your concern.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:05 pm
Crickey Deb, I can imagine how very frightening that was. I hope there are no more. Here in Brisbane the wind is becoming fearsome. It’s not nice to feel vulnerable to the elements is it. Stay safe.
By: Jan on January 26, 2013
at 11:59 am
I think what Brisbane is copping is much worse than here. Stay dry!
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:05 pm
Oh, thank God it wasn’t bad. I felt the tremors from the Indonesian earthquake last year and remember being scared out of my wits.
By: Madhu on January 26, 2013
at 12:18 pm
The sensation of your house moving under you is very frightening indeed…I don’t want a repeat.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:06 pm
thank God you and everyone around you are safe. My first one was in Trinidad (and Tobago), chairs with us in them moved from one side of the room to the other side – pretty scary indeed., Take care.
By: anyone4curryandotherthings on January 26, 2013
at 1:09 pm
There is not much you can do except hope it doesn’t happen again.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:07 pm
I’ve been in what are nothing more than tremors, but I can’t imagine. Cheers to the sturdiness of your home!
By: aFrankAngle on January 26, 2013
at 1:28 pm
The house is about 200 years old and built on rock, so I hope it is strong enough to withstand earthquakes.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:08 pm
Wow – that must have been frightening. We experienced a small one in Ohio in the 80’s. A few things moved in the house but no damage.
Stay safe.
By: Pam Proctor on January 26, 2013
at 1:35 pm
It is not an experience I would like to repeat in a hurry.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:09 pm
I have to get my two bits worth in here too…only to be a support for team Debra. It IS frightening! There is no preparation and the sensation is hard to fathom…two summers ago, when a lot of people weren’t even aware of it, here in Toronto, a quake ‘visited’. The cat noticed it first, staring in the direction of an outside wall, a tap, tapping coming from an unfamiliar place. I thought I was having a dizzy spell, the windows seemed to be moving…it probably only lasted a few seconds, but it felt much longer, like riding a wave. I remember being curious and scared at the same time; very unnerving. I hope the memory of this fades quickly for you and all the good in your life buries any residuals. Lovely Spring is on its way.
By: Caterina on January 26, 2013
at 1:57 pm
I think I will always be a little wary, but what can you do? Is anywhere really safe? Brisbane has just had some terrifying weather and there is a possibility of more floods.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:10 pm
I’m glad you are fine, the experience is frightening ideed, and unexpected as it is nothing can make it better; but believe it or not, people in areas where small ‘movements’ happen often, get used to them.
By: maruclavier on January 26, 2013
at 2:26 pm
Nobody here seemed very concerned, so they must be used to it.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:11 pm
yeeesh–the earthquakes that used to roll through Alaska–never will I forget the primal terror of understanding that there was no place to go to be safe.
By: lahgitana on January 26, 2013
at 2:52 pm
It seems there is nothing you can do when there is no warning at all.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:11 pm
Even with warning, where would we go? The doorway tends to be recommended…. But when the earth beneath is shifting and creating gaps, our houses are pretty insignificant, I’ve found.
Utterly terrifying.
By: lahgitana on January 28, 2013
at 3:33 pm
I wouldn’t know what to do if there was as serious one…hope for the best I suppose.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2013
at 1:16 pm
thanks for keeping us all updated
By: christopher oconnor on January 26, 2013
at 3:12 pm
It is a good thing that nobody was hurt and life goes on as usual.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:12 pm
Living in southern California we are all too familiar with earthquakes. Hopefully you won’t have another one-glad to hear that allis okay with you and your town.
By: paninigirl on January 26, 2013
at 3:21 pm
There isn’t much we can do except hope that there isn’t a big one.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:13 pm
I have never experienced an earthquake and hope I never do; the whole idea of natural disasters scares me silly. We are prone to hurricanes in SW Florida but usually get enough warning to get out of their way. Glad to hear there is no damage.
By: Marcia Clarke on January 26, 2013
at 3:27 pm
Yes, it seems we were all lucky this time.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:13 pm
It is so scary…and a weird sensation. We were in Genova last year when the big one hit Italy, on the 12 th floor, and the entire ROOM moved around…we could hear the building make a groaning noise, and the bed moved in circles…scary! It was late at night / early in the morning, and we just knew that it must have been really bad sonmewhere. When we woke up and turned on the news, we saw all of the damage that was done. Tragic to see that and to know we were right there to feel it. Be safe, my friend! Will be thinking of you.
By: Our Kitchen Inventions on January 26, 2013
at 5:53 pm
Genova had some terrible things happen, I saw it all on TV. This was just a little one, but it was my first….and hopefully my last.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:15 pm
I’m glad you’re ok, Deb! It must have been quite a shock! x
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on January 26, 2013
at 9:05 pm
It really sounded and felt like a large truck had hit the building, which would be possible where I live. I thought I would go outside to a disaster, but everything was OK.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:16 pm
Deb just heard about the earthquake I know you’re not a drinker but bottoms up may help with the nerves
By: Anonymous on January 27, 2013
at 2:21 am
It could probably turn you to drink if it happened often.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:17 pm
Very frightening, glad you’re safe.
By: twoblackdoggies on January 27, 2013
at 3:34 am
Scary stuff, but I think what is happening in Queensland is worse. I hope you survived the storm and that you don’t flood.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:17 pm
Thank you, we came out of the flood and storm with little damage, it is heart breaking to see the number of trees that have been uprooted in our local area and I feel for those that have had their homes flooded again.
By: twoblackdoggies on January 30, 2013
at 10:09 am
URgh, now I’m reminded of my first earthquake experience when I was a kid.
By: rommel on January 27, 2013
at 5:44 am
It isn’t a pleasant experience. Let’s hope we don’t have another
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:18 pm
Deb, with all the time you spend here, I’m surprised that was your first experience…and glad. It is terrifying. The utter sense of having no control. I’ve been through about 5 since coming to Milan, and I always start saying “Make it stop! Make it stop!” But of course no can. It’s very, very unsettling. Literally. I am so glad you and your house are alright. Take care.
By: The Daily Cure on January 27, 2013
at 8:57 am
I have been here for at least 6 months here in each of the last 10 years and this is my first earthquake. I must have been lucky so far.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:19 pm
Glad to hear all’s well – shaken but not stirred!
By: The Travelbunny on January 27, 2013
at 4:21 pm
Not knowing what it was is the worst part. I guess I will be a little better prepared next time.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:20 pm
Wow I would be scared beyond belief! I have never felt one before but would hate too.
By: thirdeyemom on January 27, 2013
at 10:23 pm
It is not something I would like to experience again.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:21 pm
I can almost understand and feel you dear Debra. I had many experience from the childhood till today… None of them was good. It always makes me scare… I am glad nothing happened. But please be in safe and take care. Love, nia
By: niasunset on January 28, 2013
at 11:27 am
Thank you for your concern Nia. Let’s hope we don’t experience it again.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2013
at 1:22 pm
Being from California, I have experienced many earthquakes. Thankfully, all but one was minor…and that was enough to last me a life time. They can leave you with a sense of unease, but I always think that the little ones relieve the pressure inside the earth, thus preventing a big one from occurring. Whether this is scientific fact or not, it makes me feel better! So, hopefully knowing that some internal pressure has been release will put your mind at ease 🙂 I’m loving the new house – very pretty and with a gorgeous view!
By: tesorotreasures on January 30, 2013
at 12:52 am
Let’s hope you are correct about the little ones. I don’t want a big one.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 30, 2013
at 11:38 am
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to earthquakes, even though I grew up with them.
By: linneabylinneanilsson on January 30, 2013
at 6:24 am
I doubt that I would get used to them either.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 30, 2013
at 11:39 am