Tsunami alert issued in the Tyrrhenian Sea after 2 earthquakes rock Palermo, Italy

PALERMO, Italy — Palermo, the capital of Sicily, and other cities in southern Italy were rocked by two earthquakes just minutes apart in the Tyrrhenian Sea, including a magnitude 5.7 quake. 

The epicenters of both earthquakes were about 5 miles apart in the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 33 miles north of Leni, Italy, on Sicily.

A magnitude 4.9 quake struck just before noon local time, followed by the magnitude 5.7 quake around 12:20 p.m, according to the USGS.

The epicenters of both quakes were about 6 miles below the surface.

The Palermo government said the mayor is expected to sign an order ordering the evacuation of some public buildings and people were urged to stay out of the water and avoid boating.

The city government of Bagheria said first responders are conducting building inspections and local schools were evacuated. Italy’s national tsunami warning system issued tsunami alerts for coastal areas around Bagheria, the city said in a statement.

Check back for updates on this developing story.