1930 Irpinia earthquake
The central and southern part of the Apennines has been characterised by extensional tectonics since the Pliocene epoch (i.e. about the last five million years), with most of the active faults being normal in type and NW-SE trending.In the worst damaged areas, about seven out of ten houses were almost completely destroyed, an outcome made worse by the poor strength of many buildings.The death toll was low, considering the level of physical damage, a fact partly explained by the number of villagers who were away from their houses, many sleeping in the fields while working on the wheat harvest.[2] The greatest intensity of X (Very destructive) on the European Macroseismic Scale was recorded at Aquilonia Vecchia, Lacedonia and Villanova del Battista.Intensities of IX (Destructive) were recorded at Anzano degli Irpini, Scampitella, Castel Baronia, Melfi, Montecalvo Irpino, Rocchetta Sant'Antonio and Trevico.