Tsunami alert is issued for Italy as twelve earthquakes strike off Sicily and schools in Palermo are evacuated

The strongest tremor, measured at 5.0 magnitude, struck the southern Tyrrhenian Sea at around 12.20pm, fewer than 60 miles from Palermo. Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily's Civil Protection, declared an immediate alert across the worst-hit areas of Messina and Palermo. A courthouse in Trapani was evacuated, and frightened residents on Alicudi and Filicudi fled into the streets. No damage or injuries have been reported so far.

An orange warning means coastal communities could face waves of under 0.5 metres.

The US Geological Survey recorded the main quake higher, at 5.7 magnitude.

Tremors were felt as far away as Licata, around 180km from the epicentre.