Surface faulting and environmental effects accompanying the Dec. 26, 2018, Mw 4.9 Fleri earthquake, Mt. Etna volcano, Italy

The December 26, 2018, Mw 4.9, Fleri earthquake, is the among the largest shallow (H=1 km; INGV) seismic event instrumentally recorded on Mt. Etna volcano. On Dec 26 morning we started mapping surface faulting and other coseismic ground effects along the NNW-trending, right-lateral Fiandaca Fault. Heavy damage affected the localities of Fleri (Zafferana Etnea), Mazzasette, Pennisi, Fiandaca, and SantaMaria LaStella, located along the fault trace. Very shallow focal depths are typical for the damaging tectonic earthquakes on the eastern flank of Mt. Etna volcano; in particular, the Fiandaca Fault generated similar events on 07/01/1875, 8/08/1894, 07/12/1907, 07/05/1914, 03/08/1931, 19/06/1984, 19/10/1984, 25/10/1984, 11/11/1997. Surface fault slip has been also observed along at least other 4 known capable faults