Vibrations linked to the devastating earthquake in Italy, in which at least 73 people died, were felt in Ireland.

Professor Chris Bean of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies said the tremor was felt across Ireland.

He said the equipment used by the institute was sensitive to very small ground vibrations, smaller than can be felt by humans. The first vibration felt in Ireland was picked up at the Institute’s Wexford station.

“In the middle of the night last night we detected vibrations at all of our (six) stations around the island,” he said.

“We traced it back to Italy, which coincides with the events we’ve heard about today.”

The Institute’s six stations are in the Dublin Mountains, the Valentia Observatory in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, Oughterard, Co. Galway, Inch Island, Co Donegal, Carrickbyrne Hill, Co Wexford and on the Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth.