The strongest earthquakes ever in Basilicata from 1000 to 2020

Historical series of the strongest earthquakes ever in Basilicata

This page shows the strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Basilicata, from 1000 up to present times (year 2020 included). The information refers to a database of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. In particular, it is the following work: Rovida A., Locati M., Camassi R., Lolli, B., Gasperini P., Antonucci A. 2022. Parametric Catalog of Italian Earthquakes (CPTI15), version 4.0. National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), https://doi.org/10.13127/CPTI/CPTI15.4.4

Only seismic events with a magnitude ≥ 3.5 were selected from the database.

Below the map there is also a table, indicating the date, the denomination of the area of maximum effects and the moment magnitude. Together with the events with an epicenter in Basilicata, those earthquakes not far from the regional borders have also sometimes been included.

Data from INGV, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, ingv.it

What was the strongest earthquake ever in Basilicata?

The strongest earthquake ever with its epicenter in Basilicata was recorded on December 16, 1857 with a magnitude equal to 7.12 (area/city: Basilicata).

Symbols used for earthquake epicenters in Basilicata

The color of the icons indicates the magnitude.  Yellow: 3.5≤M<4 .  Orange: 4≤M<5 .  Red: 5≤M<6 .  Purple: 6≤M<7 . Black: M≥7 .
Click on the icon to view the details of the seismic event. Below the epicenter map there is a table with a list of the events.


In the database there are 101 earthquakes, 12 of them with 3.5≤Mw<4 (11.9%), 71 with 4≤Mw<5 (70.3%), 15 with 5≤Mw<6 (14.9%), 2 with 6≤Mw<7 (2.0%), 1 with Mw≥7 (1.0%).

More link:
Strongest earthquakes, Italian regions

Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy
Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy and magnitude ≥5
Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy and magnitude ≥6
Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy and magnitude ≥7


Tables of the earthquakes since 1000 a.d. with epicenters in Basilicata

By clicking on the header of each column it is possible to sort the events as you like (for example, in chronological order). By default they are sorted by decreasing magnitude.


# Data Evento Area Epicentro Magnitudo
1 December 16, 1857Basilicata7.12
2 September 8, 1694Irpinia-basilicata6.73
3 August 14, 1851Vulture6.52
4 November 20, 1836Appennino lucano5.86
5 December 18, 1273Potenza5.8
6 July 31, 1625Vulture5.8
7 May 5, 1990Potentino5.77
8 February 1, 1826Potentino5.74
9 January 2, 1831Appennino lucano5.53
10 September 9, 1998Appennino lucano5.53
11 August 14, 1851Vulture5.48
12 October 13, 1917Val d'agri5.46
13 December 26, 1857Basilicata5.33
14 February 13, 1963Potentino5.19
15 August 8, 1846Potentino5.18
16 August 6, 1954Potentino5.18
17 December 24, 1885Basilicata5.09
18 May 26, 1991Potentino5.08
19 November 25, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.93
20 November 11, 1807Val d'agri4.87
21 November 10, 1634Matera4.86
22 May 14, 1980Alta val d'agri4.83
23 December 3, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.83
24 May 5, 1990Potentino4.81
25 August 8, 1973Appennino campano-lucano4.75
26 September 24, 1978Materano4.75
27 January 9, 1956Materano4.72
28 November 23, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.72
29 May 5, 1990Potentino4.68
30 December 4, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.67
31 October 2, 1899Polla4.64
32 October 3, 1910Basilicata meridionale4.62
33 November 14, 1969Potentino4.62
34 July 23, 1986Potentino4.61
35 July 3, 1934Castelsaraceno4.55
36 September 21, 1981Potentino4.55
37 November 23, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.54
38 January 28, 1987Potentino4.54
39 November 30, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.52
40 August 10, 1845Materano4.51
41 November 29, 1981Potentino4.51
42 November 29, 1971Alta val d'agri4.5
43 November 26, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.42
44 September 3, 2004Potentino4.41
45 November 19, 1861Potenza4.4
46 November 25, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.36
47 January 9, 1981Irpinia-basilicata4.36
48 January 15, 1981Irpinia-basilicata4.35
49 February 2, 1983Potentino4.35
50 May 29, 1989Appennino lucano4.34
51 April 18, 2002Appennino lucano4.34
52 March 26, 1908Materano4.31
53 November 24, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.31
54 April 7, 1998Valle dell'ofanto4.31
55 December 8, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.26
56 December 20, 1981Val d'agri4.26
57 November 29, 1990Golfo di policastro4.26
58 December 3, 1932Marsico vetere4.24
59 July 19, 1895Appennino lucano4.21
60 March 22, 1968Basilicata meridionale4.21
61 November 26, 1980Irpinia-basilicata4.21
62 August 28, 1990Potentino4.21
63 February 24, 2004Appennino lucano4.21
64 September 21, 1981Potentino4.2
65 May 29, 1995Val d'agri4.18
66 April 15, 1708Appennino lucano4.16
67 August 31, 1722Matera4.16
68 May 20, 1759Val d'agri4.16
69 February 4, 1859Balvano4.16
70 November 10, 1931Vulture4.16
71 October 4, 1966Potentino4.16
72 April 11, 1999Appennino lucano4.16
73 December 3, 1935Calvello4.15
74 June 29, 1905Brienza4.14
75 April 2, 1852Vulture4.13
76 April 18, 1991Piana di metaponto4.13
77 March 28, 1981Irpinia-basilicata4.11
78 May 3, 1957Potentino4.09
79 January 5, 1984Lagonegrese4.09
80 May 5, 1990Potentino4.08
81 September 24, 1981Potentino4.07
82 September 1, 1987Potentino4.05
83 September 7, 2006Potentino4.05
84 May 5, 1990Potentino4.04
85 August 26, 1990Potentino4.03
86 September 23, 1998Appennino lucano4.02
87 September 24, 1998Appennino lucano4.02
88 September 9, 1998Appennino lucano4.01
89 May 5, 1991Val d'agri4
90 April 17, 1817Potentino3.97
91 January 16, 1999Appennino lucano3.95
92 March 7, 1920Avigliano3.93
93 May 28, 1910Castelsaraceno3.84
94 February 23, 2004Appennino lucano3.82
95 November 8, 1998Appennino lucano3.8
96 July 2, 1906Montemurro3.78
97 April 26, 1998Potentino3.76
98 June 20, 1991Potentino3.71
99 October 19, 1957Potentino3.7
100 August 16, 1993Appennino campano-lucano3.67
101 March 14, 1999Appennino lucano3.66