Tremor hits Malta, epicentre off Mellieħa

Shake is second in a week

Updated 12.35am

A tremor measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale hit Malta late on Thursday, with its epicentre just 16 km off Mellieħa.

The tremor hit around 11.57pm, shaking many parts of the island.

The quake had a very shallow depth of 5km. It is the first time in recent memory that the epicentre of the quake was so close to Malta. 

People from all over the island took to social media to report the shake.

A resident in St Paul's Bay said: "The shelves and other smaller furniture shook strongly for approximately six seconds."

"I was in my living room and the building really shook. My cats were spooked," said one resident in Cospicua.

Many reported hearing a rumble which went on for up to five seconds. 

There are no reports of damage yet. 

Several people were also woken up in the early hours on Wednesday, when a magnitude 4.7 earthquake hit off the coast of Catania. 

The moment the earthquake was recorded by the University of Malta's Seismic Monitor located at Qala Chapel. Image: Department of Geosciences, University of MaltaThe moment the earthquake was recorded by the University of Malta's Seismic Monitor located at Qala Chapel. Image: Department of Geosciences, University of Malta

The earthtquake was felt just as hundreds of people were gathered in Mellieħa to start the charity walk to Floriana throughout the night in aid of Puttinu Cares.

Hundreds of people gathered in the square outside the church in Mellieħa to start the walk in aid of Puttinu Cares. Photo: Puttinu Cares/FacebookHundreds of people gathered in the square outside the church in Mellieħa to start the walk in aid of Puttinu Cares. Photo: Puttinu Cares/Facebook

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