Qualitative effects of local geology on damage pattern

September 1997 registered the onset of a seismic sequence striking the Umbr ia-Mal-che region (Central Italy), in which earthquakes up to intensity IX caused widespread damage. With respect to villages settled in an intermount ain basin near the epicentral area, the resulting damage pattern is investi gated to give a better understanding of future local ground-motion sensitiv ity. Macroseismic data are collected and compared with the surface geology of 26 villages and hamlets within a restricted area. Among these 26 settlem ents, seven individual groups of different geological conditions are discer nible, showing a gradual variation to the damage severity. The greatest dam age occurred within the basin, in villages settled close to border faults. Significant damage also occurred at locations on the contact between fan de bris with bedrock or alluvium. In support of models existing in literature, these observations show that strong shaking can be generated at the edge o f basins.