Damage scenario induced in the city of Rome by the L’Aquila seismic sequence of April 2009 (Italy)

Abstract

the L’aquila seismic crisis of april 2009 caused some damage to buildings in rome’s urban area, located about 100 km west of the epicentral area. this paper reconstructs the damage scenario based on data provided by the Fire brigade (Fb) of the Provincial Department of rome. the data base contains: i) records of telephone calls received by the Fb and asking for inspections of possible damage; ii) reports of inspections of buildings carried out by its technical staff. the most signi cant damage was concentrated in some sectors of the urban area: historical centre; Prati, mazzini, testaccio, San Lorenzo, tufello, montespaccato and centocelle-tuscolano districts and, in part, via giustiniano imperatore.the importance of this reconstruction lies in the exceptionality of the seismic event which was felt in rome’s urban area in 2009 and which, however, cannot be regarded as the maximum expected one, taking into account the local seismic hazard.the interpretation of the damage scenario was focused on its possible correlation with the geological setting of the urban area. the following elements were considered: i) damage distribution and concentration in the urban area; ii) main architectural and urban planning characteristics of rome’s districts; iii) population density.a comparison of the damage recorded in districts with similar architectural characteristics and population density inferred that the damage was concentrated in areas of shallow and soft subsoil, consisting of recent alluvial deposits from the tiber river.