Seven earthquakes took place off the coast of Birżebbuġa between July 29 and 30 (inset map, overlapping red stars). The largest quake had a magnitude of 3.3 on the Richter Scale, and was felt in a number of villages in the south. Over 80 reports were submitted to the University’s Seismic Monitoring and Research Group (http://seismic.research.um.edu.mt). Although this was the first time earthquakes so close to Malta were digitally recorded by the SMRG, their location was not surprising as they relate to the system of faults found along the coastline. Throughout July, five other weak earthquakes were recorded by the SMRG in the Sicily Channel (red stars). Globally, a powerful magnitude 7.0 quake struck Indonesia; however, despite its large magnitude there was no threat of dangerous waves from a tsunami.