Italy earthquakes: Tsunami alert issued after 12 tremors strike off Mediterranean coast

A tsunami alert has been issued in Italy after a series of tremors was detected off the Mediterranean coast.As many as 12 quakes were recorded with magnitudes of up to 5.0 near Sicily on Friday lunchtime, prompting precautionary evacuations of schools in Palermo and Messina.An orange tsunami alert was issued for residents to vigilant and exercise caution around coastal areas as students left classes and public offices were abandoned, according to local media.A courthouse was evacuated as far away as Trapani, on the west coast, while students and municipal workers vacated buildings in Lipari, an island between Sicily and mainland Italy.A magnitude 5.7 quake off the coast of Italy on Friday (USGS)The epicentre was less than 60 miles from Palermo, on the northern coastline, which has a population of 648,260 as the island’s capital.Locals reported feeling tremors in Palermo, Patti, Licata, Capo dʿOrlando and Campofelice di Roccella. Licata is 180km from the epicentre.The other 11 tremors all registered above 3.0-magnitude, officials said.The United States Geological Survey recorded a 5.7 magnitude quake at a depth of 10km north of the island, occurring at 10:19am local time. At the time of writing, there were no reports of injuries or damage to property.More follows...