Scientists try to counter Rome earthquake fear

Science : Rumors have been circulating for several months via the internet, Italian media, and word of mouth that Italian scholar Raffaele Bendandi had predicted the destruction of Rome today by a catastrophic earthquake. Rome is not a city prone to earthquakes, and there is no evidence that Bendandi—who did accurately predict an earthquake in central Italy in January 1924—ever made such a prediction. Nonetheless, growing apprehension has led thousands in the city to stay home from work or travel to the countryside. An estimated 20% more city employees have called in sick or requested vacation time today when compared with the same day last year. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has attempted to allay residents’ fears by posting educational videos on YouTube and by pointing out that scientists are not able to predict when and where an earthquake of a certain magnitude will strike. Gabriele Scarascia Mugnozza, director of the department of Earth sciences at Sapienza University of Rome, will hold a meeting on earthquakes today in his department in an attempt to convince secondary school students and other members of the public that improved construction techniques and detailed geological investigations, rather than pinpoint prediction, are the best ways of dealing with earthquakes.