The Italians ran out of the capital for fear of earthquakes

Thousands of Italians left Rome because of rumors that the earthquake will attack the city today.

>> Wild with earthquake news in Rome

Astronomer and seismic researcher Raffaele Bendandi. Photo: buzzbox.com.

According to rumors spreading, earthquakes will happen today in Rome - dubbed the immortal city. This news stems from the warning of an astronomer and seismologist living in the previous century named Raffaele Bendandi (1893-1979).

Mr. Bendandi used to predict almost exactly the time and place of major earthquakes. For example, he warned the city of Avenzzano in L'Aquila province, Italy, will shake by a seismic attack on January 13, 1915. Right on that day the earthquake occurred and killed about 30,000 people. He then correctly predicted the earthquake in the Friuli region on May 6, 1976, making approximately 1,000 people dead.

Fear of anticipation and rumors, thousands of people left the city.

Fund chairman Bendandi tries to extinguish rumors. He said: 'I can declare with absolute certainty that the documents that Bendandi wrote do not mention the earthquake in Rome on May 11, 2011.'

A corner of Rome city. Photo: rometraveller.info.

But Bendandi's president's statement did not prevent people's panic, because Bendandi's past predictions were too accurate.

A Rome official said many people called the police to ask about the risk of earthquakes. So the government decided to open a free line to reassure people.

The Coldiretti Farmers Association announced that the number of people moving to Rome's suburbs skyrocketed in the past few days. ANSA news agency reported that a series of shops in the city were closed on the grounds that shop owners were sick or traveling.

To ease people's worries, today Sapienza University in Rome holds a seminar on earthquakes and how to protect yourself in the face of an earthquake.