Published: October 23, 2026, 5:35 AM CT — TNW News

Leni, Italy — A magnitude 5.7 earthquake shook the Aeolian Islands off Sicily's north coast early this morning, the strongest in a quick one-two punch of overnight quakes.

What happened: The 5.7 quake hit at 5:19 AM Central Time (10:19 UTC Friday), centered about 61 kilometers west-northwest of Leni, Italy, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Shallow quakes push their energy up to the surface, so the shaking can feel stronger than the magnitude number alone suggests. It followed a magnitude 4.9 quake that struck the same stretch of islands 28 minutes earlier, at 4:51 AM CT. The U.S. Geological Survey has not flagged either quake as a tsunami threat.

Impacts: A shallow magnitude 5.7 quake can rattle buildings, knock items off shelves, and wake residents across the nearby islands. No damage reports have come in as of this writing. TNW News will update this story as felt reports and damage assessments arrive.

What to do:

- If you feel shaking, drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until it stops.

- Expect aftershocks — smaller quakes can follow the main shock for hours or days.

- Check your home for damage to gas lines, water pipes, and walls before turning utilities back on.

- Stay clear of damaged buildings and landslide-prone slopes.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 23, 2026.