Avezzano earthquake, 1915

Avezzano earthquake, 1915
Coordinates	42 ° 10 '44 " N , 13 ° 35' 6" E Coordinates: 42 ° 10 '44 " N , 13 ° 35' 6" E
date	January 13, 1915
Time	6:52:42 UTC
Magnitude	7.0
epicenter	Avezzano
country	Italy
dead	> 30,000

The Avezzano earthquake was a powerful earthquake on the early Wednesday morning of January 13, 1915 in the central Italian mountain region of Abruzzo . Although the shocks with a magnitude of 7.0 lasted only a few seconds, they caused a serious catastrophe in the region. The city of Avezzano , the epicenter of the quake, was hit hardest. In Avezzano up to 11,000 people were killed of the then counted 13,000 inhabitants. In the Avezzano area, over 30,000 people died as a result of the earthquake; over 15 villages in Abruzzo were completely destroyed.

The quake even caused individual damage in Rome .

With most of the roads in the region being damaged, the relief effort proved extremely difficult.

King Victor Emmanuel III donated on August 8, 1915 by decree for merit after the earthquake, the medal of merit for the earthquake of Avezzano , which was awarded in three classes.